Rise in distance no issue for Class Above
TRAINER Gerald Innes believes Class Above has a bright middle distance future, although he is wary of the heavy conditions the five-year-old will strike in that role at Woodville on Thursday.
Innes believes the horse will negotiate the distance easily, but is not sure the horse will be suited to the track.
“I’ve got a bit of time for him and he’ll get over a trip, but he is better on dead tracks,” the trainer said.
“He’s such a nice-moving horse that he’s really suited to better ground, but we’ll take our chances.”
Class Above will step out in the All Diamonds Zedace Syndicate 2200m as the winner of two of his last three starts.
Innes said the horse was unlucky not to be undefeated at this point of its career.
“He won his maiden at Woodville and then I gave him three weeks off and I thought he would win fresh-up at Awapuni, but he came off the truck awkwardly that day and didn’t figure,” he said.
“The next day he was a bit stiff behind and we got him right and he duly won at Waipukurau. He’s done well since then.”
Class Above has been ridden in both of its wins by apprentice Madan Singh, who will again take the reins aboard the son of Zed.
Singh has also been booked for stablemate Our Charli’s Angel in the Dannevirke Service & Citizens’ Club 1400m.
“She’s showing promise and she is one who will handle the wet ground,” Innes said.
A half-sister to the multiple winner Oceania, Our Charli’s Angel was fifth on debut on the course and a last-start sixth in Rating 65 company at Awapuni.