Briefs for 4th May 2015

Makfi a spring goal for Vespa; Her Choice to Queensland; Ascot on Able Friend’s radar;

Makfi a spring goal for Vespa

Vespa will chase further Group One honours during the Hawke’s Bay carnival in the new season.

“He went out for a spell in great order,” trainer Johno Benner said. “He’ll be out for a few months and then I’ll set him for the Makfi.”

Vespa added the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas and the Listed Flying Handicap to his record this preparation and was turned out after his close second in the Gr.1 Easter Handicap.

“He did us proud and came through that race pretty well,” Benner said.

Her Choice to Queensland

Stakes performed mare Her Choice has joined the Eagle Farm stable of Brian Smith.

She has won twice and has minor placings in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes and the Listed Champagne Stakes for her former trainer and part-owner Nick Bishara.

“She ran a nice third here at Tauranga on a track that was too heavy for her,” he said. “She’ll barrier trial for Brian on Tuesday and then probably run at Ipswich next week.”

Bishara also has ownership interests in Elusive Storm and Caellum, who started their careers in New Zealand and have since won 13 races between them under Smith’s guidance.

Ascot on Able Friend’s radar

Champion Hong Kong galloper Able Friend may be given the opportunity to star on the world stage.

Trainer John Moore will monitor the five-year-old’s progress in the wake of his Gr.1 Champions’ Mile victory at Sha Tin on Sunday night before considering a start in the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot in June.

“This is not my horse this is Hong Kong’s horse,” owner Dr Cornel Li said. “As John said, we will see how he pulls up out of this race and then we will decide about Ascot.”