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Although he was expecting good things from Saturday’s premier raceday at Trentham it was still a relief for Foxton trainer David Haworth when he left the track that evening with a winning double under his belt.
Haworth and daughter Emma produced impressive four-year-old mare Endeavour to win handsomely in rating 65 company in the third race of the day and followed up in race four with classy sprinter/miler Waikaha who dealt to her rating 85 opponents.
“Based on their lead-up form we did expect both of them to win but until they actually get to the post in first place you can never be sure about anything,” reported Haworth.“Endeavour is a very promising mare and I do think there are a few more wins in store for her. She jarred up at the Cup meeting in January on a very firm track but there was a nice amount of give in it on Saturday and Opie (Bosson) said she just loved it.
“Waikaha bruised her heels at Tauherenikau at her last start so we had to ease up on her but on paper she did look like she would be too good if she raced up to her best despite having plenty of improvement left in her.“It was a good effort as she was wide early in the race and was carrying topweight however Opie said she did it very comfortably which is pleasing as we will look to step her back up to stakes level at her next start.”
Haworth was hoping to run both mares on Manawatu Sires’ Produce Day at Awapuni in a fortnight however a lack of a suitable option for Endeavour has put paid to that plan.“We thought there might be a rating 75 mile at Awapuni but unfortunately there isn’t so she will go to Hastings on the 4th of April instead,” he said.
“There is a Listed 1400 at Awapuni for Waikaha and then most likely an open mile for $50,000 at Riccarton two weeks later.“That’s the plan at this stage although there is still a chance we revise that and look at the Group One at Te Aroha but the timing isn’t great there so we will take a few days now and see how she has come through Trentham before we make a final decision.”
The Gr. 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) is the feature race on the card at Te Aroha on Saturday the 4th of April.