Racing: Flemington goal for leading Kiwi colt

Summer Passage has eyes on the Danehill Stakes. Photo / Trish Dunell

Top New Zealand colt Summer Passage is making excellent progress toward a second trip across the Tasman.

The Hong Kong-owned son of Snitzel has been back in work with trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott since early May with plans for an early departure to Melbourne.

"We honestly couldn't be happier with the horse," O'Sullivan said. "He's good in the coat and condition-wise as well, he's looking great."

Summer Passage, who travelled to Sydney in the autumn off the back of his group one Sistema Stakes victory at Ellerslie to finish runner-up in the group one Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick, is unlikely to make a domestic appearance before he heads to Australia. "He's not that far off trialling and, at this stage, that's likely to be at Flemington on August 27," O'Sullivan said.

"Our preference is to go early and get him on the good tracks as soon as possible."

Summer Passage is pencilled in to resume in the group two Danehill Stakes, a race won last year by the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Saracino, over 1200 metres on September 16. "Our main aim will be the group one Coolmore Stud Stakes so we want him to have some practice down the straight at Flemington before that," O'Sullivan said.

"He's a New Zealand stallion at the moment and I guess the next step is to make him a serious Australian stallion."

- NZ Racing Desk