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Chris Gibbs was pleased with the results from his two representatives at Pukekohe and is already looking ahead to feature assignments next season.
The Ruakaka trainer produced Comin'through to finish second to Blue Breeze in Saturday’s open 2200m and Romancer to run third in the Gr.2 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m).
“I was happy with their runs,” Gibbs said. “Comin’through has gone out for a spell and it’s likely we’ll do the same with Romancer.“Comin’through has had a long campaign and it was a last-minute decision to throw a late nom in for Pukekohe.
“He’s been honest and was only a length and a-half from the winner in the Auckland Cup. He’ll be set for a New Zealand Cup campaign.“As for Romancer, there will be plenty of opportunities for him next season.
“He’s not a mudder and I thought on a slow track he was a chance, but when it became heavy I was a little bit uncertain. He did well.”Meantime, Gibbs has six acceptors at Avondale on Wednesday, including impressive last-start winner Toy Kingdom and the juvenile debutantes Chapeau and Pacific in the Contessa Vanessa New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series 1200m.
“The blinkers on Toy Kingdom have made the difference,” Gibbs said. “He should be a good chance again and if he goes well there’s a chance we might look at taking him to Queensland.“As for Chapeau and Pacific, they will find it hard to beat Media Sensation and the other winner in the field (Kailani Sunset), but they show promise.
“Chapeau has drawn wide so we’re treating it as more like a trial for her. She needs to start off somewhere.“Pacific has drawn well and she’ll improve a lot with the race, too.”
Chapeau has been placed in both her trials, the latest a second to Kailani Sunset, while Pacific has had three trials for two placings and was fourth of five in the same heat won by Kailani Sunset.