David Greene hopes to have his multiple Group One winner First Five at the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) in three weeks’ time, but won’t hesitate to bypass the feature if conditions aren’t to suit.
A standout winner of last season’s Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), there were plenty of eyes on the gelding at Ruakaka on Saturday when he stepped out for an open trial over 1050m.
Regular jockey Wiremu Pinn opted to settle midfield while fellow topliner Crocetti sat three deep before taking over on the home turn, where he remained comfortably through the line. First Five was equally impressive, cruising in fourth place at the post under a hold.
Greene was pleased with what he saw from the son of Almanzor, particularly on the softer surface.
“He’s done everything really well and what we’ve asked of him at this stage, so we thought it was a good opportunity to take him up the highway and stretch his legs, and blow off few cobwebs for him,” he said.
“Wiremu said he felt great, he said the track might’ve been slightly on the softer side then he’d ideally like, but he suggested that if he had given him a squeeze, you would’ve seen a lot there.
“That’s not what we’re here for today, but it should put him in a really good spot hopefully for three weeks’ time.”
The Foxbridge is Greene’s ideal next step for First Five, but said he wouldn’t hesitate to scratch if rain comes at his local track.
“Originally you probably don’t think you’ll get the track (to suit), but we haven’t had the rainfall this winter that we’d normally get,” he said. “He’s not a definite for that race, so if you’re punting the earlies and it rains on Friday, don’t be ringing me up and saying you have to run it.
“That would be a nice springboard because he does take a run or two to be at peak form, then he can space himself out from there and hold that space.”
If no Foxbridge, it may be straight into the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 5, followed by the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) back at Hastings later in the month.
“(We are targeting) the first two Triple Crown races, and then we’ll just reassess from there,” Greene said. “The 1400 is the main target of this prep, that’s why we’ve got him up nice and early.
“We want to make sure that’s not a lead up for anything, it’s the main target.
“He’s dynamite at 1400, that’s the one we want to win this spring.”
First Five is right in the market for all three races, currently at $4.50 chance in the Foxbridge, $5 in the Proisir and $4.50 in the Howden Insurance Mile. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
