Photo: Race Images, Peter Rubery
A solid hit out by classy three-year-old filly Best Seller during an exhibition gallop on her home track at Hastings on Saturday has trainer John Bary more than satisfied ahead of her racetrack return at Trentham next week.
The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) runner-up covered the last 1000m of her workout in 60.5 seconds, coming the last 600m in 34.5s under rider Jonathan Riddell and looked to be galloping well within herself.
Bary has given the daughter of Wrote a slow build-up after her exertions at Riccarton in November, where she bowed only to the unbeaten Legarto in the Group One fillies feature and is pleased with how she has strengthened up during her down time.
“We didn’t rush her back home from Riccarton and left her for a week down there, before bringing her back to Otaki and then home to Hastings,” Bary said.
“She has been in light work since then, which we have stepped up lately and she has done well.
“She hasn’t grown too much but her regular trackwork rider says she feels a lot stronger now.
“She normally races at around the 460kg mark and at the moment she is 475kg and feeling no ill-effects of that extra weight.”
Bary will kick off her summer campaign in a three-year-old 1200m contest at Trantham on January 7, with an eye to a future Group One prize at the venue.
“She hasn’t raced at Trentham before, so she can have a nice hit-out and look around before we take her back for the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) three weeks later.
“If she is going as well as we think she can then she will have a go at the Lowland Stakes (Gr.2, 2100m) at home here at the start of March.
“That will tell us whether we press ahead to the New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) or drop her back in distance to the Levin Classic (Gr.1, 1600m).
“It is a real question as to whether she can get the 2400m, but if she is going to, the best chance will be in her own age-group against her own sex.
“My gut feel is she will as she relaxes so beautifully in her races, but you just never know.”
Purchased by Bloodstock Agent Adrian Clark for just $12,000 out of Highview Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft, Best Seller became the first stakes winner for her sire Wrote, a son of highly acclaimed international stallion High Chaparral, who stands at Highview Stud.
Wrote will be represented by 22 individuals during the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale which kicks off on January 29 at Karaka. – NZ Racing Desk
