Tough stayer Wolfgang showed enough during a brief Melbourne campaign last spring to warrant a return visit.
The six-year-old is making good progress toward a new campaign, with the aim of crossing the Tasman early in the new season.
“He’s had three gallops this time in, and he didn’t seem blow much at all this morning, he’s more mature now,” said Peter McKay, who prepares the gelding with son Shaun.
“There’s an open handicap mile at Awapuni in early August for a start-off point and then maybe a 2100m race at Te Rapa before we hopefully go to Melbourne in September or early October.”
Wolfgang won both of his starts at Hastings and Matamata before he ventured overseas last October and finished an encouraging sixth in his Australian debut in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).
He then ran a gallant fourth in the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) behind Onesmoothoperator, who went on to finish midfield in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
“There’s a lot of those 2400 and 2500m races over there for him, he’s best over those distances, he can relax and go to sleep and does his best work late,” McKay said.
“It’s a big step up, but the couple of runs he put in over there last spring showed he can be competitive in the lesser Cup races.
“We’ll put in nominations for the Caulfield (Gr.1, 2400m) and the Melbourne Cup just in case he does really step up.
“Otherwise, we’ll follow similar races to last year but just stay on longer. That’s the plan at this stage.”
Wolfgang continued to race well on his return from Melbourne last year to claim top honours in the Gr.3 Welington Cup (3200m) and New Zealand St Leger (2500m).
He also finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) and the Listed Kaimai Stakes (2000m).
“He is tough and does take a bit of work, he’s not the sort of horse you just tick over quietly, he’s like Puccini and cops the racing as well,” McKay said.
He trained Wolfgang’s sire Puccini to win eight races, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), with the son of Encosta De Lago also a multiple domestic and Australian Group placegetter.
Meanwhile, Ballon d’Or’s emergence earlier this season is almost certain to see him continue his career in Hong Kong.
“He’s passed the vet tests and has been cleared so I’d say there’s a 95 percent chance he’ll go,” McKay said.
The son of U S Navy Flag has four wins and six placings from 15 starts and finished a close fifth in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
