The ever-consistent Celtic Echo (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven) will attempt to gain a spot in the coveted $350,000 Remutaka Classic (1600m) at Trentham later this month when she heads to Wanganui on Thursday.
The four-year-old mare has placed in four of her seven starts to date and trainer Jade Zuppicich believes she has a bright future instore once the penny drops.
“She is knocking on the door but she hasn’t quite got there, she is still trying to work everything out,” Zuppicich said.
“It just takes her that little bit around the bend to get going and when she gets into the straight she puts two-and-two together and stretches out and starts to work. She is just taking a long time to put everything together.
“She goes around in her own little world, not worrying about what everyone else is doing. It is good in some ways but in other ways she just really needs to start concentrating that little bit earlier.
“She has definitely got the talent, it is just trying to get her to put it all together.”
Zuppicich was hoping to gain ballot exemption into the Remutaka Classic in a qualifying race at New Plymouth on December 29, but had to change tack when that meeting was abandoned and head to Wanganui this week to chase another ticket into the rich Trentham feature.
“We were quite gutted that New Plymouth was cancelled because that would have suited perfectly,” Zuppicich said.
“Had she won the ticket it would have set her up perfectly three weeks before Wellington. This is obviously going to be a little bit closer so we will see what happens.”
“I know she is going to be up against a tough field of horses (in the Remutaka Classic) but she has already been up against maideners at set weights and penalties up against some of those better class horses, and she has shown she can be competitive against them.”
Celtic Echo will jump from gate two on Thursday in the Palamountains Animal Nutrition Maiden 2040, a barrier Zuppicich wasn’t overly enamoured in drawing.
“She prefers to be drawn out further because then she is not having to try and come through them because she drops back so far. If she can loop around them she is a bit happier,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zuppicich is also excited about the prospects of stablemate Ninja Turtle (NZ) (Power), who is close to returning to the races.
The enigmatic six-year-old has also been a consistent performer, placing in six of her 12 starts, but she may prove to be harder to place, with her dislike for left-handed tracks.
“Ninja Turtle is back in work but she is hard work with her attitude to get out onto the track, Zuppicich said. “But once she is out there she is fine.
“We are looking at jumpouts next week with her. We will see how she goes and then possibly take her down to Wellington where she can go down to the start down the chute right-handed, otherwise we are going to have to take her up north because of the right-handed factor.”
