Hiflyer flying high again
Peter Lock might not have to wait too much longer for the first Group I success of his lengthy training career.
His aptly-named stable star Hiflyer moved a step closer to fulfilling the Te Aroha horseman’s racing dream following a heartstopping performance to continue his winning ways in Saturday’s Group III Eagle Technology Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie.
Lock has yet to decide when his classy son of Tavistock will step out at the elite level, but his performances so far strongly suggest the five-year-old is more than capable of making a winning impact.
‘‘I’m in two minds what to do at the moment, the horse will tell us in the next day or two what to do,’’ he said.
The Group I Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham next weekend is a possibility, albeit a remote one.
‘‘I don’t really think he’s a horse to back up so we’ll go home now and have a think about it,’’ said Lock, who has been training for more than three decades.
‘‘We could stop now and freshen him up and then maybe have a go at the Thorndon Mile at Wellington. It’s all pretty exciting.’’
Hiflyer settled midfield and one off the fence at Ellerslie before he became strung up in traffic as the field swung for home.
‘‘Half-way down the straight I didn’t think he was going to get a run,’’ Lock said. Gaps finally opened for Hiflyer and he didn’t need to be asked twice to take them and powered home to beat Splurge and Volkstok’n’barrell.
‘‘It might be silly to say, but I think this horse is only going to get better next time in,’’ Lock said. ‘‘He’s still learning his trade.’’
Wanganui-based jockey Johnathan Parkes has now ridden Hiflyer six times for four wins and two placings. ‘‘I managed to find the gaps and it was a big performance, he’s an exciting horse,’’ he said.