Quality mare Rondinella (NZ) (Ocean Park) will be back in action at Ellerslie on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) for trainers Roger James and Rob Wellwood.
The five-year-old daughter of Ocean Park has been off the scene since a three-start Melbourne spring campaign, which resulted in seconds at Group Two and Group Three level and a last-start eighth in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 9.
“She came back from Melbourne very jarry and muscle sore everywhere,” James said.
“She’s right again now, but the 1400m will be too short for her on Saturday.
“We’ll make a decision after the race where she goes next. She’ll probably go straight over 2000 metres.
“She could run in the New Zealand Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) at Ellerslie again. She got knocked from pillar to post in it last year and still ran third to Melody Belle and Danzdanzdance. It was top effort.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel), winner of the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) before a last-start fourth in the Gr.3 City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie, will also be travelling to Auckland track on Saturday.
“She’s going to have an exhibition gallop then go back there for the Avondale Cup (Gr.2, 2400m) on February 15,” James said. “She’ll probably have a trial at Matamata between times.”
