Gary Vile is heading to Te Rapa on Monday full of confidence with his star three-year-old Hard Merchandize, who will line-up in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m).
The Burgundy gelding impressed with his last start victory in the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) earlier in the month and the Awapuni trainer has been very happy with his subsequent progress.
“I was very pleased with his win in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, it was a good tough effort and a great ride,” Vile said. “The horse deserved it, he was a good two-year-old and has come back well at three.
“On Tuesday morning his work was really good and he’ll have a little breeze-up before I take him up north.”
Vile expects his runner to put in another bold showing, despite drawing barrier 12.
“I am very happy with him going into Monday, but the draw is another thing,” he said. “I was hoping to get a nicer draw after drawing so badly in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (barrier 13) but it is what it is and we’ll just have to overcome it.
“We’ll see what the pattern of racing is on the day, it’s a later race so we’ll know. I have won a few races at Te Rapa so I know the course.”
Vile remains undecided as to whether Hard Merchandize will head to Christchurch for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld 2000 New Zealand Guineas (1600m), but said he could instead be targeted toward some feature races at Ellerslie.
“There are a few more things he has to answer yet. There are a whole heap of things the other horses have to answer as well, so they are all on trial to go down south I would think.”
