Thorn Prince gets easier task before Hastings

Thorn Prince has been rewarded with an easier task this weekend after giving a good account of himself last time out against the country’s leading weight-for-age performers.

The stakes winner will run in Saturday’s Merial Ancare Metric Mile at Awapuni but it will provide only a brief respite away from the best of company.

While unplaced, Thorn Prince’s effort to finish five and a half lengths away from Kawi in lthe Makfi Challenge Stakes satisfied his trainer Fraser Auret.

‘‘I thought the run had a fair bit of merit,’’ he said. ‘‘We were banking on a wetter track to bring him into it and, to be fair to the horse, he didn’t disgrace himself over 1400 metres.

‘‘He’s in good touch and it will be a step down in class on Saturday and the 1600 metres will help him. He ran second to Puccini in the race last year.’’

Safely through Awapuni, Auret will head back to Hastings for the Livamol Classic on October 3.

‘‘If there is any moisture around it will help him in that sort of company,’’ he said.

‘‘He will be back up to a distance that he is more comfortable at and it looks the right race to have a crack at.’’

Thorn Prince has a good strike rate of nine wins from 32 starts and claimed the Taumarunui Gold Cup under 59kg during the winter.

The impressive progress made by Sureasyouwereborn’s last preparation had benefits on two fronts for Barrie and Nikki Blatch.

The Tapanui owner-trainers guided the mare through to a stakes victory and a Group placing to boost both her future breeding value and also that of an inspired purchase.

‘‘Sureasyouwereborn started last season as a Rating 65 horse and she ended up on 98,’’ Nikki Blatch said.

‘‘Prior to her kicking off we took a punt and also bought her half-sister by Iffraaj, who is being broken in.’’

Sureasyouwereborn opens a campaign focused on the New Zealand Cup in the Abernethy Contracting Handicap at Gore today.