KEY POINTS:
The Auckland Cup or the New Zealand St Leger? That's a question Waikato trainer Darrell Hollinshead will deliberate over the next few days after his top staying mare Bak Da Chief won the $40,000 New Zealand St Leger Trial (2100m) for 3 and 4-year-olds at Otaki on Saturday.
Hollinshead said a factor against the Auckland Cup was the 3200m distance but he was not dismissing it.
"Two miles [3200m] at this stage might be a bit soon for her," Hollinshead said. "But we'll decide all that over the next few days."
Bak Da Chief, however, did win over 2400m when taking out the Waikato Cup last year and yesterday's winning jockey Sean Collins said the Auckland Cup would not be beyond her.
"She's got to be in with every show," Collins said.
Bak Da Chief, a $3.20 favourite, trailed the leader Redwings before going to the lead at the top of the straight. She went on to score by a length and Collins said there was more in reserve.
"She just toyed with them," Collins said.
"If anything had come up to her in the last bit she still had plenty there."
Second went to Tedriffic who ran home strongly after being last while a long neck away third was Redwings. There was a neck to Kaapeon Way who fought well along the inner for fourth.
- NZPA
