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Confirmation of a trip to Australia for Vespa wasn’t forthcoming on Saturday, but it’s a fair bet that the leading colt will be given his chance at the Melbourne spring carnival.
Last season’s leading juvenile paraded in fine fettle for his three-year-old debut in the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes at Ruakaka and he raced right up to his looks with a determined victory.
Trainer Johno Benner didn’t immediately commit to the Melbourne campaign after watching his stable star overcome a tough run to get the better of the previously unbeaten Copy Watch in the day’s feature.“Never make decisions on raceday,” he said. “We will decide in the next 24 to 48 hours.”
If Vespa is on next Wednesday’s flight, which would seem highly likely on the evidence of his resuming run, the $A1 million Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11 will be his target event.“If he goes we’ll be staying at Stephen McKee’s until he gets on the flight next week,” Benner said.
Vespa was given no favours on Saturday and rider Mark Du Plessis was forced to sit wide from an outside gate.The Elusive City colt challenged Copy Watch 250 metres from home and he was given a stern run for his money before class won out and Vespa drew away to win by three-quarters of a length.
“It looked like we were in a bit of trouble for a few strides, but he’s a very, very good horse,” Benner said.“He was ready enough for this race and there’s plenty of improvement in him. He’s bigger now and a lot stronger - he really has furnished into a lovely horse."
Riding Shotgun, runner-up to Vespa in last season’s Listed Karaka Million, came out of the trail to finish a solid third ahead of Buffalo Boy, who made ground near the fence.The fillies Queen of Navarre and Dream Run were disappointments of the race and they dropped out to tail the field home.