Photo: Natasha Morello, Racing Photos
Trainers Mick Price and Micheal Kent Jnr have elected to take a cautious approach with Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man x Avisto) with her first-up run at Caulfield on Saturday.
The local trainers were weighing up whether to line her up in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), but have elected to take the easier option of a Benchmark 90 1400m assignment first-up on Saturday.
The four-year-old mare hardly put a foot wrong last preparation, winning three of her five starts, including the Listed Bendigo Guineas (1400m), and placing in her other two hit-outs, including running third in the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m) last start.
She ran sixth in her 800m trial at Cranbourne earlier this month and her trainers are happy with her progress heading into her first hit-out of her spring preparation.
“She is flying that mare,” Kent told RSN927.
“She is a big-framed horse that will keep filling out as the better weather comes.
“She jumped out fantastic last Tuesday, we had her going the fastest time of the morning.
“Ben Melham (jockey) was kind enough to come in and have a feel of her (on Tuesday). She worked on the course proper and ran a very sharp last 400m.
“I feel she is a genuine one-two chance in that race versus a very strong Cockram (Gr.3, 1200m) this year.
“Hopefully she has a nice, easy warm-up run and then we are aiming to get her towards a Let’s Elope (Gr.2, 1400m).”
Bred by Greg Tomlinson who remains in the ownership, Annavisto was born and raised at Curraghmore and is by Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man out of the Tavistock mare, Avisto, a multiple stakes winner. -NZ Racing Desk
