After a false start last weekend, Kolding will kick-off his spring preparation in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Ocean Park gelding was scratched from last week’s Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) after the track came up heavy at Randwick, and trainer Chris Waller has been pleased with the way Kolding has continued to work.
“His work has been good. Hopefully we get a Soft6 or better for him,” Waller said.
“He has come back well. He found form at the end of last prep when he was on better tracks.
“That will be the key to his success through the spring.”
Fellow Kiwi-bred Atishu will also be first-up in the Theo Marks Stakes and will carry the familiar Go Racing silks.
“She has come back well, but she hasn’t drawn that well (10). She just needs a touch of luck but she will be rattling home,” Waller said.
Adding to Waller’s Kiwi-bred contingent, Osipenko will resume in the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) after pleasing in his first preparation when winning on debut at Rosehill in June and finished runner-up in his second outing prior to a spell.
“He was good during the winter, the form out of that race (that he won) is pretty good,” Waller said.
“He has come back in good shape.”
Waller’s New Zealand-bred runners will be rounded out by Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Mana Nui over 1500m.
“It was a much better run first-up (fifth), hopefully he can repeat that,” Waller said.
