Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson unveiled another exciting prospect at his home track on Saturday as he continues to build a strong arsenal for the New Zealand Cup carnival in November.
Three-year-old filly Dulce Caballo had shown ability in her trials and Robinson elected to throw her in the deep end on Saturday against a staunch line-up in The Pavilion At Riccarton Park Three-Year-Old (1200m), which included stakes winners Zafar and Enchantment, and she thrived, running home a half-length victor over Zafar.
“She was very impressive,” Robinson said. “We have always thought a lot of her and she had trialled up really well. When she ran second in her last trial, they went three seconds faster than any other heat, so I knew then that we had a pretty smart filly on our hands.
“You have got to line-up against them to find out how good you are, but she certainly put her hand up. I just wanted to put her up against some of the better ones, we could have always gone back and won a maiden somewhere.
“It was a good place to give her her first start down the chute on her home track. We were really pleased with the result, it went well.”
Robinson has been pleased with the way the daughter of Exceedance has come through her debut run and said she will now likely have her first tilt at stakes level in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on Saturday week, with an eye towards next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
“She is super, I am really happy with her,” Robinson said. “The race hasn’t done her any harm at all.
“At this stage, we will box on and probably go to the Barneswood and see how she goes there and make a call on the Guineas after that.”
Stablemate Iron Hawk was set to race at Riccarton last Saturday following his first-up win over 1200m at the Christchurch track a fortnight ago, but he spiked a temperature and Robinson said the stakes performer will now head to Ashburton next Saturday.
“He just had a bit of a temperature the other morning,” Robinson said. “We found a minor issue with him, which was just enough to keep him home from the races the other day, we didn’t want to take any risks with him.
“He is in great shape, and he will go to Ashburton and run in the open sprint there in a fortnight.”
Iron Hawk is raced by harness racing trainer Barry Purdon, and his wife Katrina, who also own new stable acquisition North England, who made a statement in his first trial at Riccarton on Monday.
A dual Group Three winner in Australia, North England was purchased by the Purdons off Inglis Digital in May for A$45,000.
The Farnan entire was entrusted to Robinson, who said is a pleasure to have in the barn, and he was rapt with his eye-catching five-length trial win over 1000m on Monday.
“He was very impressive. He has come along great and at this stage he will run in the Stewards’ Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Cup meeting,” Robinson said.
“He is a stallion, but a gentleman of a horse. He is lovely to have around the stable and he is certainly going the right way. I couldn’t be happier with him, especially with the way he went today.”