Vile focussed on cup carnival

Gary Vile has high hopes for three members of his Awapuni stable at the New Zealand Cup carnival.

He has black type goals for his southern-bound party with the highly-regarded three-year-old Leading Role set for the Gr.1 Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

“He’ll got to the Foxton trials next week and then he’ll kick off on the third day at Hastings in a Rating 65 over 1200 metres,” Vile said.

“All going well, he’ll then go to Wellington on October 22. He’ll only have two runs before Riccarton.”

The winner of the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes last season, Leading Role hasn’t raced since he got home late for sixth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

“That was a huge run, he didn’t cop the heavy track at all until he found a good strip of ground in the straight and he finished very well,” Vile said.

“He’s certainly matured with the break and grown, he’s a big, strong horse now.”

Meanwhile, stablemates Jacksstar and Miss Appleton will step out at Hawke’s Bay on Saturday to further their preparations for Riccarton.

The former was a handy last-start eighth when resuming and he will appreciate the return to a middle distance in the Trinity Hill 2100.

“He’s well and his main aim will be the New Zealand Cup,” Vile said.

The winner of four races, Jacksstar showed his staying potential last preparation with victory in the Listed New Zealand St Leger.

Speedster Miss Appleton won a Rating 85 event on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival and she will run in the L I Redshaw Memorial on Saturday.

The Listed Yesberg Insurance Services Pegasus Stakes and the Gr.3 Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes are ideal southern targets for the Align mare.