Pennyweka being set for Sydney spring
Pennyweka, the Oaks sensation who triumphed in both the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) last season, is set to make her way to Sydney for an exciting campaign.
Her first outing as a four-year-old saw her finish 13th in the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), a distance considerably shorter than her preferred range.
Trainer Jim Wallace, who also co-bred and co-owns the mare, expressed satisfaction with her performance and has now set his sights on the lucrative spring races in Sydney.
Jim Wallace shared his optimism, saying, “She has come through Saturday’s run very well, we are very happy with her. She was very strong through the line, and that is what I expected. It was going to be too sharp for her at 1400m, and I just wanted to see her go through the line. She was three-quarters up the back straight before Kate (Hercock, jockey) was able to pull her up, so I was very happy with it.”
Pennyweka’s upcoming plans involve bypassing the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) in favor of a Sydney campaign.
Wallace elaborated on the decision, stating, “She will go to Sydney early next month, so she won’t be at Hastings for the next two legs (of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival). There are a couple of races there. The Hill Stakes (Group 2, 2000m) at Rosehill on October 7 will be her next run. It is a A$2 million weight-for-age race, it’s a nice race for her so we will have a crack at that.”
While Pennyweka sets her sights on Australian targets, the A$5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) will not be on her agenda this year.
Wallace explained, “We didn’t make the second payment for the Caulfield Cup. If we go to Melbourne, we might go to the Moonee Valley Cup (Group 2, 2500m) or something like that.
“I always wanted to give her a very easy time this spring. There is nothing easy about a Caulfield Cup preparation, so that can wait for another year.”
“The autumn and the following spring I think will be her best time, and we are just playing it patiently with those periods in mind.”