Group Three winner Lupo Solitario has returned to New Zealand, and the care of his former trainer Danica Guy, following a six-month racing stint in Hong Kong, while the stable are also excited about a first starter this weekend by Justify (USA).
The now five-year-old son of Satono Aladdin had seven starts in the competitive racing jurisdiction for trainer Frankie Lor, but a race fall at Sha Tin in February knocked his confidence and a decision was made to send him back to his homeland after three subsequent unplaced runs.
He has returned to Guy’s Matamata stable, where he was among the more exciting prospects in his three-year-old crop, winning three and runner-up in two of his six starts in New Zealand, including winning the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) over Orchestral, and was second behind Crocetti in the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m).
Guy is pleased to have him back in her barn, and she said she will take a cautious approach with his return.
“He is back in my ownership and care,” she said. “We are going to give him a good break and get him physically right again. I am not in any hurry to get him back to the races, even if it takes 12 months, it doesn’t matter.
“We will just look after him, get him back to his best, and see what we have got.
“If they have got ability it never leaves them, it is still there somewhere.”
Meanwhile, Guy is looking forward to kicking-off the career of promising three-year-old Dashing in the Banquo 3YO (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
By Justify, Dashing is out of Group Three performer Lubaya, who is a half-sister to Group One winner Lion Tamer and a full-sister to Group Two performer Let Me Roar, the dam of Group Two performer Mr Maestro.
Bred by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, he was purchased through the farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $190,000 by Gary Harding, and he will carry his familiar silks on Saturday.
Dashing has shown a lot of promise for Guy in his three trials to date, including winning his 900m heat at Te Rapa earlier this month.
Guy is looking forward to testing his talents on Saturday, where he will jump from barrier two, with jockey Masa Hashizume aboard.
“He has drawn a nice, soft gate, has a good rider on and he is well. I am very happy with him,” Guy said.
“It is a very strong field. I think anything that runs in the top three is going to be looking pretty good for their three-year-old season.
“We hope he measures up, but you just never know. We will just get through tomorrow and reassess, and then we will know whether we are going left or right.”
Guy will also line-up nine-year-old gelding Wild West in the Ardrossan 1200.
“Wild West is going well,” she said. “He is in his last couple of runs, he won’t be going around too much longer, but I think he has got another rating 65 win in him somewhere.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
