Racing: Gifted 4YO chasing breakthrough G1

Savile Row (gold jacket) powers home to win the Hallmark Stud Handicap at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Photo / Trish Dunell

Quality performer Savile Row will have opportunities at his next two starts to break through at the highest level.

The four-year-old will head to Trentham on Saturday week for the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) and he will then attempt to go one better in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 20.

"He came through his race exceptionally well the other day so he's ready for Wellington," said Pam Gerard, who trains in partnership with Michael Moroney.

She was referring to Savile Row's impressive win in the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie. His Boxing Day success marked his return from a lengthy break.

"I thought a few of the others may have been a bit too quick for him, but nothing surprises me with this horse," Gerard said.

"The plan has always been the Herbie Dyke for him after he went so well last year." Savile Row finished runner-up to Volkstok'n'barrell as a three-year-old and he also ran second in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).

Meanwhile, Jo-Ann Gordon is rueing a missed opportunity with her last-start Greymouth Cup winner (2000m) The Gordonian.

The Ascot Park trainer fancied their chances in today's Vernon and Vazey Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m), only for the meeting to be added to the long list of abandonments.

- NZ Racing Desk