Slipper Island put together a picket fence form line down the Trentham chute last season and he’ll be aiming to pick up where he left off at the Upper Hutt venue on Saturday.
“He’ll take plenty of improvement out of his trial and he is a horse that I think the Coupland’s on a big, roomy track, especially with a firm surface, would be ideal.”
Impendabelle proved herself at the highest-level last campaign, and the talented filly is poised to strike in a fresh state in Saturday’s Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Progressive galloper Rudyard has another victory to add to the win column in his career record after a dramatic finish to the feature race at Pukekohe.
Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga marks the black-type debut for Rudyard, and the in-form four-year-old benefits from a 5kg drop in weights from his previous appearance.
