Marton trainer Geoff Georgetti and his father Jack have an enviable choice to make with Bexley for the final day of the Auckland Cup carnival next Tuesday.
Their Lion Red Summer Cup winner from Awapuni this week will run in either the group one $150,000 weight-for-age Oaks Stud Classic (2000m) or the group two $150,000 Highview Stud Trophy (1600m). The decision will be made this week.
The Honor Grades mare was once an Auckland Cup contender but Jack Georgetti, who races the 6-year-old in partnership with his wife Shirley, said he pulled Bexley out of the Cup after her last-start disappointment (ninth) in the Avondale Cup.
"She won her first two races in this campaign really well, but I think we rushed her a bit getting ready for the Counties and Avondale Cups and that reflected on her form up there," he said.
"That earlier weight-for-age win with Trudy Collett aboard took its toll on the horse, I think.
"So looking through her Counties and Avondale Cups form we decided to abandon the Auckland Cup, freshen her up and aim for big mile or 2000m at Ellerslie on the last day."
Part of the new plan was a lead-up run in the Summer Cup and the result was just what they wanted, he said.
Bexley had little trouble slotting into a trailing position on Tuesday and rider David Walker was aided by a true pace set by Cilantro and Ulysses.
That played into his hands beautifully.
Bexley took the lead halfway down, but Walker's worries had just begun. Three horses in a line - Seeking, Voltaire, then Xenatare - came at Bexley fast in the closing stages, but Bexley dug deep to hold them at bay in a blanket finish.
The winning margins were a head over Voltaire, a long-head to Xenatare, who was just a nose in front of Seeking.
Georgetti said a decision on which race Bexley contested at Ellerslie next Tuesday could be made as late as Saturday.
"We'll obviously see how she comes through the Awapuni race and then study the fields at Ellerslie in an effort to make the right choice up there," Georgetti said.
A rider will have be found for Ellerslie, but Georgetti said Paul Taylor had first option.
- NZPA
Racing: Waiting game pays off in buildup to Ellerslie
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.