Photo: Trish Dunell
Trainer John Bary is hoping Trentham becomes a happy hunting ground for his stable over the next couple of months.
The Hawke’s Bay trainer is looking toward the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with Best Seller (Wrote) and Sequoia Star (Redwood), who will head to the Upper Hutt track on Saturday to contest the Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
Best Seller will lead the stable’s charge this weekend and Bary is expecting to see plenty of improvement from the daughter of Wrote, who finished third first-up over 1200m at Trentham earlier this month.
“The run the other day was just okay, but the track was very sticky,” Bary said.
“Speaking with Sam Spratt and Jonathan Riddell afterwards, they felt it was probably closer to a Heavy8, they just couldn’t get their feet out.
“I had been a bit light on her and she went in on one exhibition gallop.
“I gave her an extra gallop on Saturday at home because she has been doing really well. She was on the course proper again on Tuesday just to keep it up, and it was really top-notch work.
“She is really well and ready to rumble.”
Following Saturday’s run, Best Seller will return to her home track at Hastings for the Gr.2 Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m) in March, which will dictate her autumn plans.
“In a perfect world, she wins on Saturday and then we will probably go to the Lowland Stakes, which is on her home track over 2000m,” Bary said.
“The Lowland will tell us whether we go to the Oaks or go back to the Levin Classic Mile.
“My gut instinct is that she will get the Oaks distance.” -NZ Racing Desk
