Carnival plans for Spoke To Carlo

Nigel Tiley won’t be over-taxing his proven wet track performer Spoke To Carlo this winter.

The Pukekohe trainer will be racing the European-bred gelding sparingly with the Hastings carnival later in the year in mind.

“We might look at the Winter Cup with him, but the way the seasons are going there may well be a wet spring,” Tiley said.

“With a very late autumn, the winter could carry on through September and even October so we’re thinking Hawke’s Bay is a good option.”

In the meantime, Tiley will pick and choose his targets and Spoke To Carlo is likely to make his next appearance in either the Listed James Bull Rangitikei Gold Cup at Awapuni on May 21 or in an open mile at Ellerslie a week later.

“We’re just treading water with him really and waiting for a bit of cut in the ground,” he said.

The winner of three races and a two time Group placegetter in his brief New Zealand career, Spoke To Carlo has been out twice since a spell and finished runner-up at Tauranga at his most recent appearance.

Meanwhile, his talented stablemate Girl of My Dreams has been spelled.

“She went off a bit after she was just beaten in the Zabeel Classic,” Tiley said. “She wasn’t herself in the Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha so she’s out and will be back for the spring.

“It certainly won’t do her any harm and she can only get better with a bit more time.”

Girl of My Dreams enjoyed a profitable summer and early autumn campaign with victory in the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup and her Group One placing in the Zabeel Classic further boosting her future broodmare value.