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Distance test awaits leading sprinter

3 minute read

Group One-winning mare In Style is to be set a fresh challenge.

In Style winning the Norwood Farm Mach. Centre Hcp Picture: Trish Dunell

She is to be tried in a new role by trainer Danica Guy, who has been foiled and frustrated by forces beyond her control with the six-year-old this preparation.

Successful in last year’s Railway Stakes, In Style had a brief and unsuccessful stint with Flemington trainer Michael Moroney in the spring before she returned to Guy’s Matamata quarters.

She was ineffective on a dead track in the Gr.1 Telegraph at Trentham and then won an open handicap on her home track before Guy was forced to late scratch In Style from last Saturday’s Gr.1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa after a downgrade.

“She can only go on a good track and I had her in perfect order and then there is a problem with the track – I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“It’s the second time it’s happened to us after they got it wrong at Hawke’s Bay and had to pull the pin down there.

“The over-watering at Te Rapa is very hard to take as my owners aren’t in big syndicates and they own their own horses. It’s very expensive and it’s hard enough to get them to stay in the game without this sort of thing happening again.”

With few sprinting options left, Guy said In Style would now be tested over more ground.

“We’ll look at the Darley Plate and then go for broke. We’re going to try her over a mile if there is a good track for the Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha.

“There’s nothing to lose by seeing if she can run a mile, there’s nothing else for her and she’ll be in foal next season.”