Smart filly Xpression out for spell

Promising Hastings filly Xpression will be missing from Saturday’s group one Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham, but trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen have their group one winner Wait A Sec on the verge of a return to racing.

Xpression has been on the easy list since finishing third behind More Wonder at Awapuni last month.

“She was disappointing last start,” Lowry said. “She seemed to be working up well before the race and she should have gone a lot better . . . There had to be something wrong.

“We had her thoroughly checked over after the race and her bloods weren’t 100 per cent.

“It’s not viral, but she’s just got a few niggling issues and we’ve backed off her.

“She’ll go out for a spell and we’ll monitor her. Before we do anything with her we’ll wait until she has a clean bill of health.”

Xpression won the group two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Trentham as a 2-year-old and was in fine form last spring, winning the group three Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton, and being runner-up to Avantage in the group three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.

The Showcasing filly then ran a highly creditable third behind Media Sensation in the group one New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

While Xpression is taking it easy, Wait A Sec is ticking over on the comeback trail.

Wait A Sec became the stable star when winning the 2017 group one Livamol Classic at Hastings, but has been off the scene since winning the Wairoa Cup 11 months ago.

“He had a tear in his tendon and has had a good long break,” Lowry said. “He seems to be coming up well.”