Jenna Mahoney is confident of having High Class at her peak for the filly’s grand final, despite a false start to her classic programme.
The Ardmore trainer originally had the Gr.3 Windsor Park/Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes on the three-year-old’s programme and she has decided against a return south for the rescheduled Group Three event on Saturday.
Instead, Mahoney will stay closer to home and High Class will take her first step this season toward the Gr.1 NZB 1000 Guineas in Friday’s Hinuera Lodge 3YO at Te Rapa.“I didn’t want to go to Hastings again,” Mahoney said. “She lost a bit of condition the first time and I thought this would be an easier option, but it has come up quite a strong field.
“She was a bit flat after the first trip, but she’s back to her best now and her work has been really good.“She’s got to start somewhere and the 1200 metres will be a bit short for her, but this way there is less travelling involved.”
Mahoney believes a future step up to 1600 metres will be ideal for High Class and, to that end, she has Plan B in place for the Shocking filly to be primed for the Christchurch feature on November 14.“She’ll be at her best over a mile and she will go to the Soliloquy Stakes after Te Rapa,” Mahoney said.
“Ideally, I would like to give her a run over a mile before Christchurch, but I can’t find anything to suit her.“She is quite a clean-winded and athletic filly so going straight to Riccarton after Ellerslie shouldn’t be a problem.”
High Class made an impressive start to her career last season with a defeat at Avondale of Risque, who recently won her maiden by 11 lengths at Ashburton, before she finished fourth on an unsuitably heavy track in the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes prior to a spell.
