Lightly-tried five-year-old Nelson Park is expected to give a bold account of himself when he kicks off his spring campaign at Ruakaka on Wednesday.
A two-time Premier meeting winner last preparation, the strapping son of Iffraaj will resume in the A’Fare Caterers Handicap.
“What he did last time around did us all proud – he had been up for 11 months even though he only had eight races.
“He’s a big horse and we were trying to get his head right, he wanted to bolt in his slow work all the time so we changed a few things around and a different routine has worked for him.”Nelson Park won three times earlier this year before he was given a break.
“He went out for two months and he’s put on 30 kilos, which he’s kept on,” Hapeta said. “He trialled up well at Avondale and I would be very surprised if he didn’t go a good race.”Nelson Park will be ridden by Mark Du Plessis, who has won on the gelding and who partnered him at the trials last month.
“We’ll take it a race at a time and Mark knows the horse so he’ll tell us whether we go straight to a mile next time or give him another 1400,” Hapeta said.“I would like to get him up to 2000 metres at some stage – he’s got a good cruising speed and I’m sure he’ll make it in open class.”
