Talented three-year-old Equinox (NZ) (Exceed and Excel) is likely to contest the Rating 82 Benchmark Withers & Co Chartered Accountants 1100m at Ellerslie as the Jamie Richards-trained colt looks to work his way through the grades to sprinting features.
The winner of three races and stakes-placed behind Catalyst (NZ) (Darci Brahma), Equinox finished seventh in the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) and will have a short-course focus.
“We gave him a few days off after the Sarten and had this race picked out for him,” Richards said.
“We had considered the Counties Bowl (Listed, 1100m), but he was too low in the ratings.
“We put in a nomination for the Levin Stakes (Listed, 1200m), but at this stage he is more likely to run on Saturday at Ellerslie in the Rating 82 1100m.
“He’s down in the weights and we think he’s got a future as a sprinting horse. We’ll see how things fit together after Saturday, but the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) at weight-for-age could have some appeal. Obviously, he needs to get his rating up before we consider a race of that quality.”
