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Cups targets for High Quality; Nicoletta retired

Cups targets for High Quality

Levin galloper High Quality  will likely head on a cups path over the summer after his win in the Raukawa Cup (2100m) at Otaki on Sunday.

The Geoff Haigh-bred, owned and trained gelding impressed his connections with the three-quarter of a length victory and they are now eyeing a similar path to last year with the seven-year-old.

"He has had eight runs this time in and he hasn't finished further back than fifth," Haigh said.

"He's a genuine horse and we own him ourselves, but he isn't a world-beater. He is very consistent and he will get a decent race when he gets the rub of the green."

The son of Handsome Ransom is likely to back-up at Trentham this weekend before being set for his summer campaign.

"He has come home and he has done well since his run," Haigh said. "More than likely he will go to Wellington on Saturday for a Rating 82 2400m race and then we will progress through from there.

"There's the Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2300m) in December and whether we go for the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) again, we'll just see how we are going."

Nicoletta retired

Group One winner Nicoletta has been retired to stud following her unplaced run in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes (1400m) at Hawera earlier this month.

The daughter of Savabeel, who is owned by Lib Petagna's JML Bloodstock, won five of her 32 career starts, including the Gr.1 New Zeland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m), Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes (1400m).

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained mare was also placed at Group One level in the New Zeland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) and Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).

"She's gone to Trapeze Artist, a three-time Group One winner by Snitzel," Baker said.

"She's a Group One winner herself and had done enough. She was a good mare."