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Foxton trainers David and Emma Haworth are tipping a bright future for Very Appealing after her victory in the Wrightson/Leopard Hotel Xmas Cup (2200m) at Waipukurau on Sunday.

The four-year-old daughter of Cape Blanco jumped straight to the lead from her ace barrier before handing up to Obrigado. Jockey Zinjete Moki sat patiently on her charge before improving Very Appealing at the 600m mark to sit outside the leader and then distanced her rivals in the straight to win by 2-3/4 lengths.

"We think she's a classy mare," Emma Haworth said. "We have had a bit of an opinion of her for a while now, but we have just taken her quietly."

It was Very Appealing's third win from 13 starts and her connections are now setting their sights a little higher in the autumn with the mare.

"Everyone who has ridden her has really liked her and have said they don't think we have seen the best of her yet, so I think she is going to be quite exciting," Haworth said.

"We might look at giving her another run in (rating) 72 grade in a couple of weeks' time at Palmerston North and then give her a couple of weeks off and then bring her back in the autumn and hopefully look at some decent races for her."

Haworth is also looking forward to the future with Toms after his victory in the Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2200m) last month.

The six-year-old gelding, who is owned by his trainers, subsequently finished unplaced in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe, but his connections were still pleased with his efforts. 

"Having him nominated for Auckland races, we just wanted to give him a go that way around," Haworth said.

"We were actually pretty pleased with his run. Rosie (Myers, jockey) got off him and said don't be disappointed, he was really doing his best work late. He jumped away slow, which messed up his chances because a lot of horses on the day couldn't make up ground with the times they were running.

"I think there is always the option of being able to go back to Ellerslie now that he has gone that way around."

While Toms is nominated for the Gr.3 SKYCITY City of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, Haworth is leaning towards some black-type targets closer to home.

"At this stage, we are aiming towards the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m) and then onto the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m)."