Northern target for Lord Ernesto; Old friends back together; Moody inquiry ongoing;Bonnie Belle an improver;

Northern target for Lord Ernesto

Unbeaten four-year-old Lord Ernesto is likely to head north to make his next appearance.

“The plan is to go to Te Rapa on July 4 for the Rating 75 race over 1400 metres,” trainer Sandie Cookson said.

Lord Ernesto won on debut at Woodville before he overcame trying conditions at Wellington earlier this month to keep his perfect record intact.

“We don’t get heavy tracks here at Foxton to gallop on so it was a bit of a risk taking him to Trentham, but he got the job done,” Cookson said.

Old friends back together

Richard Cully will renew an old acquaintance at Saturday’s Manawatu meeting.

The Melbourne-based jumps jockey will be reunited with the Paul Nelson-trained Kings Deep in the Manawatu ITM Awapuni Hurdles.

Cully hasn’t ridden the gelding since they combined to win the Tony Richards Toyota Hurdle at Ellerslie in 2013 and a fortnight later they finished second in the Great Northern Hurdles.

Kings Deep hasn’t raced over fences since after a virus counted him out of competition last winter.

Moody inquiry ongoing

Top Melbourne trainer Peter Moody remains under investigation in Victoria’s ongoing cobalt inquiries.

His Group One performer Lidari returned an elevated reading after he finished runner-up in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in the spring.

Stewards charged Lee and Shannon Hope, Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien this week while vet Dr Tom Brennan also faces numerous charges relating to the substance’s administration.

Racing Victoria stewards have confirmed their investigation is ongoing in the Lidari case.

Bonnie Belle an improver

Michael Moroney believes the step up to 1400 metres at Flemington on Saturday will be more to Bonnie Belle’s liking.

"It's a stronger race than what she contested first up, but she really pleased us that day and the longer trip is going to suit her better," he said.

A maiden winner at Te Rapa from the Matamata stable of Moroney and Chad Ormsby in the spring, Bonnie Belle finished on late for seventh at Sale in her Australian debut.