Avondale Cup hopes on the line; Stable plans local stakes attack; Kiwi galloper untapped; Counties on schedule

Avondale Cup hopes on the line

Emerging staying talent Seventeen Seventy will be on trial at Te Rapa on Saturday for a shot at the big time.

The four-year-old won a Rating 85 distance event at Tauranga two runs back before he finished runner-up to Rose Of Virginia in the Karaka Stayers’ Cup.

“He’s going well,” co-trainer Michael Rogers said. “He’s a long-striding horse who likes good ground and as long as he runs well he’ll carry on to the Avondale Cup.”

Stable plans local stakes attack

Last-start placegetters Feisty Jane and Gold Rush will go head to head in their home track juvenile feature later this month.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained pair will clash in the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes on February 27.

“They’re both going well and should be good each way chances,” Scott said.

The stable produced Strata Lady to finish third in the event last year and she has recently been sold to Australian interests as a broodmare prospect.

Kiwi galloper untapped

The jury is still out as to what level the former Wanganui galloper Start Wondering can reach in Australia.

He was successful four times for Paul Belsham and he has won three of his four starts in Sydney since joining Chris Waller’s stable.

“I still don’t know where we are at, a Group race will tell us,’’ Waller said. “We will find a nice Listed race over 1400m or 1500m for him next and we will find out more about him.’’

Counties on schedule

The Counties Racing Club are on target to resume racing at Pukekohe Park in April.

Significant work has been done on the track and 36 horses paceworked on the course proper earlier this week for the first time since the upgrade began in November, 2014.

Trials will be scheduled at Pukekohe Park next month and, all going well, racing will return on Sunday, April 10.