Black Stockings on track for cup
Steven Woodsford is taking a hit and run spring approach with staying mare Black Stockings.
Rather than a prolonged build up to the Group III New Zealand Cup on November 14, Woodsford will only line the gritty mare up once before the $225,000 race.
Black Stockings remained in the nominations after the first withdrawal on Wednesday, as did the bulk of the originally nominated runners.
With 95 rating points, Black Stockings is assured a start if she stays sound and Woodsford is likely to go into the 3200m cup on the back of one start in the Listed Spring Classic over 2000m at Riccarton on October 24.
One hitout before a New Zealand Cup may not be seen as ideal by some, but Woodsford and his mare are proven two-mile campaigners. Black Stockings ran fifth in the 2014 Auckland Cup behind Who Shot Thebarman.
The lightly raced daughter of Painted Black has been plagued with injury in recent times. She was a surprise winner in the Hororata Gold Cup last start when not even Woodsford thought she could win fresh up from a year away from the track after injuring a tendon in the Auckland Cup.
The Rangiora trainer hoped to give her two more starts during the autumn carnival before spelling for a cup campaign but those starts failed to eventuate when she was found to have swelling around one of her fetlocks after her Hororata Gold Cup heroics.
Woodsford said he would be keeping his fingers crossed she could stay sound but the early signs were positive on the training track.
‘‘We’ve managed to get a heap of work into her, we are happy with her so far,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve tried to get her as fit as I can.’’
If the weather plays ball and the track is not too wet, Black Stockings could be at the trials as early as next week.
A handful of runners have come out of the New Zealand Cup nominations but all of the top liners remain in what could be a strong cup field depending on what happens at the next with- drawal on October 28.
As expected all three runners from the Adrian and Harry Bull stable remain on the list including last year’s winner Mungo Jerry, Saturday’s impressive Riccarton winner Benzini and renowned sprinter-miler Nashville.
Nashville also holds a nomination for the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile but a tilt at the 3200m cup is a serious option.
Wellington Cup winner Maygrove, currently campaigning in Australia for the last season’s premiership winning stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, remains in the nominations and would be a well backed runner if he does make the trip to Riccarton.
The Group II Coupland’s Bakeries Mile field has lost a few high profile runners with Shuka, Duffers Creek, Vespa, Slice Of Class and Spoke To Carlo coming out but remains stack full of talent.
Scapolo, the Coupland’s winner from 2013, tops a strong list of nominations that includes the likes of 2014 winner Addictive Habit, recently crowned South Island horse of the year The Diamond One, Allez Eagle, local hope Madam Victoria, 1000 Guineas winner Platinum Witness and unbeaten 4-year-old Hasselhoof from the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs stable.
The next withdrawal and date for late nominations is October 28.