Guy chasing further Group One spoils

Danica Guy can’t split her stakes representatives at Trentham on Saturday.

The Matamata trainer is chasing her second Gr.1 Grant Plumbing Levin Classic (1600m) win in three years when Gothenburg and O’Hara attempt to replicate her 2015 success with the longshot Gaultier.

“They are both different horses and they are very well and I’m happy with the pair of them,” Guy said.

Like Gaultier, Gothenburg is a son of Rios and two runs back he was a smart maiden winner at his second raceday appearance before he was beaten by a wide gate at Tauranga.

“It all went wrong and he jumped too well for his own good and was parked out wide all the way,” Guy said.

“He’s a big-striding horse and going left-handed on a big track like Wellington will suit him.”

Gothenburg will again be ridden by Jason Waddell while Michael Coleman will renew his association with O’Hara, having ridden the Rip Van Winkle filly to break her maiden at Te Rapa in November.

She has since placed in Rating 65 company and finished seventh and sixth respectively in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.2 Eight Carat Stakes (1600m).

“She ended up working quite hard from the draw last time,” Guy said. “She stuck on alright and from a better gate I’m sure she’ll go a nice race.”

Guy is also expecting a strong performance from Spree in The Hanley Formula Premier (2100m) off the back of a Te Rapa success. Last time out she was a solid fourth in a competitive special conditions event at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

“I was really happy with her at Auckland,” Guy said. “She hit the front a bit too far out and she was only beaten just over half a length.”