KEY POINTS:
Spin Around remains an outsider for the group one $250,000 Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hastings next month but a start is seriously being considered.
Spin Around racked up his third win from his last five starts when taking out the $55,000 Winter Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Despite the victory he remains a $51 outsider for the weight-for-age Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) on September 22 but south Auckland trainer Steven Cooper said he had not entered the horse for nothing.
Much will depend on how the 7-year-old gelding, by Spinning World, coped with his trip back from Christchurch, Cooper said.
"We'll have a review and see how he gets back home - that's the main thing," he said. "If he has a nice trip home we'll sit down and have a serious think about it."
Spin Around previously raced in Hong Kong where he won four races, spending his last campaign with former top New Zealand trainer Paul O'Sullivan.
The horse returned to New Zealand after he suffered a suspensory ligament injury and Cooper gradually got him back to racing trim.
"We put a lot of long, slow work into him," he said.
He resumed racing in February and earned a trip to Riccarton when winning consecutive races at Ellerslie in June, of which the latter was a 1600m open handicap.
On Saturday he made the step up to 2000m and after being camped in behind the leading group approaching the home turn he got home strongly down the outside to score by a long neck as a $6 second favourite.
It was Cooper's best win since he was appointed to train for Brookby Stables at Ardmore about fouryears ago.
Brookby Stables is owned by Danny Wong of Hong Kong and Spin Around is one of nearly 40 racehorses he has in New Zealand.
Cooper said many of Wong's yearling purchases are educated in New Zealand.
"Then we try and decide where they are best suited," Cooper said.
Those considered the best are sent to Hong Kong but other destinations were Australia, Singapore and Macau.
Cooper said all of the most promising horses did not necessarily leave New Zealand.
"They used to be but it's not the case any more. The standard of racing in New Zealand has lifted and horses can be easily travelled."
Cooper, 51, has been involved with horses for more than 35 years and came to New Zealand from England with his partner Michelle Stebbing seven years ago.
In England he was involved with the Queen's horses as part of the Household Cavalry at Buckingham Palace in London.
"We did weddings and funerals and anything they needed us for," Cooper recalled. Among the weddings was that of Princess Anne's.
Second placing in Saturday's race went to Jovial Jock who made all the pace and was just denied by Spin Around in the last few strides. Three-quarters of a length away at third was Bellevue Lass
- NZPA
