Humidor sharpens up for Classic
Otaki trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard are looking forward to Humidor’s return to Group racing at Hastings tomorrow.
Humidor lines up in the Livamol Classic with a proud record of four wins and three placings from eight starts. He copped early interference and hung badly when 11th in the Group I New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March.
A month later, he won the Manawatu Classic at Awapuni.
Humidor’s three starts this season have included wins in a 2000m open handicap (September 17) and a rating 75 1600m (August 27) on the first two days of Hawke’s Bay Racing’s spring carnival.
‘‘We’re really confident he’ll run well [on Saturday],’’ Benner said.
‘‘Everything is good with him and he’s working up to his usual high standard.’’
A good galloping action and pedigree were among the qualities of the 4-year-old gelding, Benner said.
He and Wynyard are in their second season of training together and usually have 10 to 12 horses in work. Benner had a dream start to his training career in 2014-15 when, on his own account, he won the Karaka Million, Diamond Stakes and Wellington Guineas with Vespa.
Benner and Wynyard train Humidor for Jomara Bloodstock Ltd, whose principals are former All Black Mark Carter, his brother John and sister Rachael.
Humidor might be the only runner the Otaki trainers take to Hastings, as a wet track would not suit his stablemates Kingsman (Hawke’s Bay Guineas) and The Wolf (first emergency in race 10).
Kingsman showed his talent by running third in the Karaka Million in January.
He holds a nomination for the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 5.
Benner and Wynyard have a race in mind for The Wolf (one win) at Tauherenikau next Thursday, if he doesn’t start at Hastings.
Co-trainer Margaret Carter said her two Livamol Classic runners had good chances and she couldn’t favour one ahead of the other.
Carter and husband Tim will be represented in the Classic by halfbrothers Farm Boy and Battle Time. They have drawn wide at 15 (Battle Time) and 16.
‘‘It’s his first time over 2000m and we know he’ll handle a wet track better than Farm Boy,’’ Margaret Carter said of Battle Time.
‘‘We know Farm Boy will get the 2000m.’’
Farm Boy had a slight virus before finishing last in the Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on September 17. Two starts back, he powered home for third, one and a half lengths from winner Kawi, in the Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings on August 27.
The Auckland Cup in March is Farm Boy’s long range goal.
Battle Time was mentioned in the stewards’ report after his fourth in the Windsor Park Plate.
The 4-year-old over-raced, was awkwardly placed on rivals’ heels on two occasions and checked at the 200m.
The Carters hope to start Battle Time in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton on November 9. He and Farm Boy are owned by Waikato dairy farmer Alan Hayward, who also has a 2-year-old sister to Battle Time in training with the Carters.
Four horses in the Livamol Classic started in the weight-forage event last year.
They are Benzini (ran second), Celebrity Miss (third), Authentic Paddy (fifth) and Farm Boy (sixth). 8.14