Staying options aplenty for Von Tunzelman

The connections of Von Tunzelman will let the dust settle on their Trentham celebrations before confirming the handsome grey’s immediate future.

On Saturday, the Roger Jamestrained son of Zabeel claimed his most important victory to date when he was downed Devise and Benzini in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m).

Raced by incoming Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Von Tunzelman holds a nomination for the upcoming Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m).

‘‘We’re over the moon, he’s probably been a bit unlucky in his last couple of runs,’’ James’ racing manager Robert Wellwood said.

‘‘He needs an uninterrupted run and it panned out beautifully today.

‘‘Roger has taken his time with the horse and he showed us he was a stayer in the making when he won last season’s Kaimai Stakes.

Von Tunzelman enjoyed a good run in midfield before rider Leith Innes angled him into the clear across the top and they came with a well-timed finish in the straight.

‘‘They went pretty hard up front and I was able to get out 500m from home,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s got a bright future, maybe a cup race next.’’

Von Tunzelman finished in behind the major players in two Melbourne starts in the spring and showed he was on the verge of winning form on his return with an encouraging run for seventh in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

‘‘We got to the 700m and the track was a bit greasy and lost a few lengths, but he hit the line strongly in the last 200m,’’ Innes said.

● Meanwhile the country life continues to bring out the best in the versatile Wait A Sec.

The rejuvenated seven-year-old collected another stakes victory when he returned from a break to post an upset victory in Saturday’s

Gr.3 Tui – Backing Winners Since

1889 Anniversary (1600m). Wait a Sec is trained at Hastings by Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen and the latter’s Dannevirke farm has proved the key to him winning eight of his last 11 starts with the Gr.1 Livamol Classic

(2040m) in the spring taking pride of place on the gelding’s CV.

‘‘We just work him at home around the hills, he’s a happy horse,’’ Cullen said.

‘‘We’ve been very happy with him this preparation, we can’t fault him.’’

Wait A Sec was making his first appearance since November when he served it up to a competitive line-up at Trentham in the hands of Jason Waddell.

‘‘We thought he would be competitive and to win first-up in a Group Three race just shows the horse is flying, incredible,’’ Cullen said.

Wait A Sec’s main aim is the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) with the Taranaki Cup the next step on the path toward the Ellerslie feature.