Light campaign the key for Five To Midnight
AWAPUNI trainer Lisa Latta believes she has the plan to get maximum effort from Five To Midnight on a minimum of competitive racing.
Latta has the Livamol Classic on the final day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival at the top of her wish list for the five-year-old, which will have just one lead-up run before the October 7 weight-for-age feature.
Five To Midnight will resume in the Listed Merial Ancare Metric Mile on its home track on September 16 and Latta is confident he will then strip at peak fitness for the Hastings event.
“He’ll have another trial and a jump-out and that should all have him spot on,” she said.
The New Zealand-bred son of Domesday made its first trial appearance at Waverley last week when he finished midfield in a 1000m heat.
Latta was happy with the hit out.
Five To Midnight completed its last campaign on a top note in April when the horse was successful in the Listed Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup.
The stablemates to the Gold Cup winner, Authentic Paddy and Mighty Solomon, also stepped out at Waverley ahead of Saturday’s Group Two Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa.
“Authentic Paddy was good in winning his heat, but the track didn’t suit Mighty Solomon and he didn’t have too much pressure put on him. They are both well,” Latta said.
Authentic Paddy ran third in the Foxbridge Plate a year ago before multiple Group One placings, while Mighty Solomon was third in the Group Two Manawatu Challenge Stakes and fourth in the Group One Haunui Farm WFA Classic during his last preparation.