After a pair of luckless placings from wide barriers, New Zealand-bred mare Elettrica turned things around at Rosehill on Saturday and set herself up for a potential black-type winter campaign in Queensland.
“They were only at the trials for the run, but Puntura is a naturally big, strong galloper so we expected him to do that. He’s come through the trial well, so onwards and upwards to Saturday."
There will be a changing of the guard at Wellfield Lodge, with the Palmerston North thoroughbred nursery being offered to the market for the first time in two decades.
A tilt at Group One level could be in the offing for Lady Telena following her upset victory in the Amicus Insurance Brokers Premier (2000m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
Clinton Isdale backed his judgment when entering Beebeep in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa, and the Cambridge horseman was duly rewarded when the mare scored a runner-up result behind Johny Johny.
Five-year-old mare Elettrica has broken through for a well-deserved Australian victory when scoring in the Midway Handicap (1800m) for trainers Richard and Will Freedman at Rosehill on Saturday.
