Underrated sprinter Salamanca made light of a near six month absence from the racetrack when he kicked off a new winter campaign with a demolition job at New Plymouth on the weekend.

The hardy five-year-old gelding made it win number seven from just 23 starts when he accounted for a handy rating 85 field over 1200 metres in the hands of promising apprentice Danielle Hirini. Hirini’s three kilogram claim was put to good effect and despite still carrying the clear topweight of 59kgs, the gelding had plenty in reserve as he cruised to the line to win untouched by a length from his nearest rival.

“I was fairly confident leading into the race as he was the best performed horse in the field by a clear margin and his work had been very good in the build-up,” said trainer Mike Breslin.

“Salamanca always goes well fresh and despite having not raced since the New Zealand Cup carnival I thought he was a good winning chance.”

Breslin believes the gelding will take plenty of improvement from the run as he heads towards his main target for the winter, the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup in late July.

“He was only really eighty percent ready on Saturday so he will derive enormous benefit from the run,” he noted.

“We’ll keep him ticking along over the next couple of months although, as he goes well fresh, you won’t see him for another 3-4 weeks.

“I’ve got the Opunake Cup as his main target so whatever we do will be with that in mind.”

Breslin is also excited about his team for the winter with several high class gallopers set to return shortly.

“Gore Guineas winner Wafer will have his first run back next weekend so I’m excited about that,” he said.

“If he comes up well we might look at slipping him over to Australia for a couple of runs there. Leeds is also nearly ready to return with the Winter Cup in mind for him while Mighty Matt is also a very handy winter sprinter who will be stepping out soon.

“It’s probably the best winter team I’ve had in years so I’m looking forward to the coming months.”