Our Waikiki Beach on track again
A trial at Menangle on Tuesday will be Our Waikiki Beach’s next assignment as he continues along the path to the Australasian Breeders’ Crown Series.
Christchurch trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have the superstar three-year-old based at Luke and Belinda Mccarthy’s stable at Cobbitty in southwest Sydney.
Our Waikiki Beach is unbeaten and will be gunning for this 20th win in a C3-5 contest at Menangle on Tuesday week. Seven days later, he steps out in a Breeders’ Crown heat at the Sydney track. He is part-owned by Christchurch’s Trevor Casey, who reports his other Derby winner, Lazarus, has completed a months’ jogging at Purdon and Rasmussen’s All Stars Stable.
Lazarus was turned out for six weeks after winning the Group I New Zealand Derby at Addington in April.
The son of Bettor’s Delight has won all of his nine starts this season, with other Group I success posted in the Victoria and Northern Derbies and Sires’ Stakes Final.
Casey’s five-win trotting mare Wanna Play has been retired and could be mated with Love You in the spring. Stent, who is owned by Casey in Colin and Julie De Filippi’s Broadfield stable, recovering from a damaged suspensory is ligament.
‘‘We got it scanned last Thursday . . . it’s responding to treatment and knitting together well,’’ Casey said.
Leeston filly Nek Time competes in the Gold Coast Oaks at Albion Park on Saturday night. The Queensland Oaks at the Brisbane track a week later is also on her agenda. Co-trainer Terry Chmiel said Nek Time trialled up to expectations at Albion Park on Friday. She beat four rivals by two and a quarter lengths in 1:58.9 (1660m), a mile rate of 1:55.2.
Joe Taaffe, who works for Luke and Belinda Mccarthy, drove Nek Time in the trial which was held in between races.
The Southland-owned filly is staying at trainer Ian Gurney’s property.
Gurney bought his Queensland Pacing Championship winner, Hi Jinx, out of the Chmiels’ stable.
‘‘She travelled over [to Brisbane] good and is eating up,’’ Chmiel said of Nek Time.