High hopes ahead of Hard Merchandize’s return
THREE-YEAR-OLD star on the rise Hard Merchandize will resume at Awapuni this weekend and trainer Gary Vile believes a top-three placing is not beyond the gelding.
Hard Merchandize impressed during its two-year-old campaign will open this preparation in the H & T Agronomics/Agricom Handicap.
Vile is optimistic about the three-year-old’s first-up chances.
“I thought before his final gallop that if he could run in the first three I would be happy,” Vile said.
“After that gallop, which was very, very good, he’s ready to give them all something to think about.”
Hard Merchandize won three juvenile races, including the Listed Castletown Stakes, finished third at Trentham and fifth in the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The three-year-old was ridden in all its starts by Hayden Tinsley, but on Saturday Vile has opted to engage apprentice Timothy Johnson who can claim 2kgs.
“He’ll carry 53kg, which is a competitive weight and with three weeks to the Hawke’s Bay Guineas the timing is really good,” he said.
Vile will also produce another fresh runner in Slimline, who tackles the Group Three Boehringer Ingelheim Metric Mile.
“She’s had two trials and won them both impressively,” he said.
“It’s the best field she has ever met and I would have liked her more on a slow track. The heavy going does worry me, but she deserves her chance.”
Slimline was in fine form during its autumn campaign after taking out the Listed Manawatu Anzac, while also finishing second in the Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup.