Racing: Guineas winner set for Ellerslie feature

Hard Merchandize contested an open 1000m trial at Foxton trial and scored a long neck win. Photo / Race Images

A trials win at Foxton last week has Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Hard Merchandize on target for a northern test next month.

Freshened since finishing a game third behind Sumstreetsumwhere in the Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa, Hard Merchandize contested an open 1000m trial at Foxton trial and scored a long neck win.

"It was a nice trial, a run just to keep him ticking over," his Awapuni trainer Gary Vile said. "He had a week in the paddock after the Sarten Memorial and needed a nice hit-out.

"The plan is to take him north next start for the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie to give him a look right-handed. He's had no problem working right-handed but I just want him to have that raceday experience."

The Group 3 Hynds Holding Ltd Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) is on Saturday week and Vile feels the timing is right for Hard Merchandize.

"The main aim is the $1 million Karaka 3-year-old race in January and I'm just working out a path to get there," Vile said.

"I'm thinking of running him in the Kamada Park Stakes [at Awapuni] as a lead-up. It's weight-for-age and he'll get in on 53kg. It could be a nice race for him if he's going well."

The Group 2 Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) is on December 23 so Hard Merchandize still has just over a month before his Karaka Million 3YO Classic goal on January 27.

Vile has always had a high opinion of Hard Merchandize and punters got to finally realise his talent when he led throughout to beat some class 3-year-olds in the Hawke's Bay Guineas last month.

He then backed up that form with a courageous run for third in the Sarten Memorial after being checked early in the run home.

"It was only two or three months ago that if he got a knock like that on the turn he wouldn't have handled it, but he can take it now," Vile said. "That's how much he's improved."

Vile also won an open 1200m trial at Foxton with his promising stayer Rock On, who is on a path to the Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on January 20 and then the Auckland Cup.

- NZ Racing Desk