Potential Pukekohe star Lupo Solitario facing examination of heel
Trentham will host the richest race in New Zealand today but t wo of our most exciting horses could be starting their summers at Pukekohe instead.
But the potential star of the Pukekohe meeting in Lupo Solitario will have to pass an examination this morning before he is cleared to start.
Trainer Danica Guy informed the Weekend Herald her exciting threeyear- old had shown signs of a bruised heel in his near front leg yesterday and will be trotted up this morning to determine whether he starts in the Bonecrusher Stakes.
“He was 110 per cent on Thursday night but was showing slight signs of it [ yesterday morning],” said Guy.
“I think he must have over- reached in his work on Thursday and maybe hit his heel. It isn’t a big deal but the timing isn’t great and obviously he won’t be starting unless we are 100 per cent happy in the morning. But as of now [ mid- afternoon Friday], he is 50- 50 to start.”
If Lupo Solitario pulls out of today’s race, he will have a change of plans, dodging the 1600m 3- year- old race on New Year’s Day and heading to the Auckland Guineas over 1400m on Boxing Day as his sole lead- up to the $ 1.5 million Karaka Millions Three- Year- Old on January 27.
If he does start today, he i s the horse to beat, as he is a big 3- year- old bested only by unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner Crocetti in the Sarten Memorial on October 21 before being given a break by Guy.
Guy’s patience was ready to pay dividends if the feel Lupo Solitario gave rider Ryan Elliot in work i s anything to go by, albeit before Thursday’s setback.
“He feels like even that three weeks he had off has helped him grow up heaps,” said Elliot. “It feels like the penny is dropping, maybe not all the way yet, but it is happening.”
While there are doubts over Lupo Solitario starting today, another of our most exciting gallopers in Adam I Am is resuming at Pukekohe.
He has also had only three starts, but is a year older than Lupo Solitario, so takes on Rating 75 rivals over 1400m today in a heat of the Stella Artois Championship.
Trainer Glenn Old says his performance today and in the Stella Artois Final on Boxing Day could determine whether Adam I Am targets the new $ 1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic on Karaka Millions night or hunts easier targets such as the $ 350,000 Rangitoto Classic at Ellerslie on March 2, another new northern feature.
Old will also be partly guided by whether glamour mares Legarto and Prowess head towards the Aotearoa Classic, but regardless of where Adam I Am is aimed, he is going to attract attention and plenty of punters’ money, as he has the strong Almanzor body but with a wicked turn of foot.
At Trentham, a drying track should suit most in the TAB Classic, which feels even more even after the best horse in the race, Aegon, drew the worst gate.
Trentham allows horses to swoop but the race doesn’t set up to be run hard throughout, so those drawn wide alongside Aegon, such as Desert Lightning, will be wanting some tempo injected mid- race, otherwise they could face huge tasks, and traffic.
All of that may leave weight- for- age newcomer Habana as the horse to beat. But punters would be wise to wait until the parade to see how the quirky galloper has travelled south, as a sweating up or irritated Habana has a lot less appeal.