Trainer Stephen Marsh made the early stages of the 2023 Trentham summer carnival all his own as he capped an opening treble with exciting two-year-old Codigo taking out the Listed IRT Wellesley Stakes (1100m).
Precocious filly Impendabelle lost her unbeaten record at her last appearance, but through little fault of her own and hasn’t missed a beat in her build-up to the stiffest test of her fledgling career.
Ken Kelso isn’t looking too far ahead with Levante with his focus firmly centred on the star mare’s bid for back-to-back feature sprint titles at Trentham.
Puntura will be looking to snare his first stakes success when he heads to Trentham on Saturday.
The Listed Barfoot & Thompson Gingernuts Salver (2100m) has become one of Stephen Marsh’s favourite stops along the road to the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), and a last-gasp triumph by Cruz Missile at Pukekohe on Sunday gave the Cambridge trainer his third win in the last four years.
Strapping two-year-old colt Dapper has confirmed his place in the Doubletree By Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Pukekohe on January 21 with a comfortable victory in the Norwegian Park 1200 at the same venue on Sunday.
The thoroughbred world is mourning the death of Sir Patrick Hogan, who has passed away in Waikato Hospital after a period of ill health.
Leading filly Prowess will kick start her summer preparation when she steps out in a hot trial at Matamata on Friday.
Christmas festivities will take a back seat to racing commitments for champion jockey Opie Bosson this year.
