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Owners keep hold of Hasselhoof ; Saturday race for Thunderbird One; First raceday ride for Smith: Exciting times ahead for Bosson; All’s well with Prologue

Owners keep hold of Hasselhoof

The owners of impressive debut winner Hasselhoof have resisted offers to sell the son of Tavistock, who will have his second race at Ruakaka on Saturday.

"They got such a thrill out of his win that they have resisted the offers so far," said trainer Donna Logan who shares in the ownership with Blair Alexander, Gary Cossey and the estate of the late William Woods.

"They weighed it up and decided to carry on with him.”

Hasslehoof will step up to 1600m in the Rob Harte Lawyer Supporting Ruakaka Charity Race Day 11 July 1600m.

"He throws a lot to Zabeel and the step up from 1400 to 1600m should suit him,” said Logan.

"I can see him as an ideal horse for Brisbane next year over a bit of ground or even Sydney."

Saturday race for Thunderbird One

Cranbourne trainer Francis Finnegan has had a long association with the highly talented but temperamental Thunderbird One.

Finnegan was first associated with the horse when training in Woodville, getting him to his first official trial, which he duly won, before he was sent to Murray Baker’s stable in Cambridge.

Thunderbird One showed great potential winning five and placing in three of his ten races for Baker before finding his way to Finnegan’s Melbourne base last year.

He won his first race for the Irishman at Sale, but has since been disappointing.

“I never thought I’d be just trying to win a Saturday race in the city with him,” said Finnegan who will attempt to do just that with the six-year-old in the David Bourke Provincial Plate at Flemington.

“He’s a talented horse but he’s just not firing and I can’t put my finger on why. It’s not a great race and he won’t go terrible, but on his recent form it’s hard to have confidence.

“At his best, he’s the best horse in the race and should win. If he did, I wouldn’t be the lease bit surprised. But I’ll just have to wait and see.”

First raceday ride for Smith

English apprentice Emma Smith will make her raceday debut at the Hastings on Saturday.

Apprenticed to Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Smith moved to New Zealand in October 2014 to be closer to her father, former jumps jockey Nick Smith who works at a neighbouring stable for Stephen Marsh.

The 19-year-old will partner Blue Wagon for her employers in the Hawke’s Bay Racing Members’ Winter Finale. Having his first run this preparation, Smith’s 4kg claim will be a benefit to the top-weighted son of Keeper who showed plenty of promise in his first racing preparation, breaking maiden ranks and placing in his three other starts.

“At the moment I am very excited and not nervous, but the nerves might set in tomorrow though,” said Smith.

“I ride Blue Wagon everyday and he’s a lovely big horse. I’m lucky as he’s a nice horse for me to be having my first race-day ride on.”

Exciting times ahead for Bosson

Spring will be very much on Opie Bosson’s mind during his winter holiday.

The top jockey is looking forward to a break and will then return to reacquaint himself with a trio of top prospects from Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s Cambridge yard.

“I’m off on holiday to Europe on the fourth of July and won’t be back until the 24th,” Bosson said. “I always have trouble with my weight in winter and I’m looking forward to the break.

“When I get back I’ve got a personal trainer organised to help me out. I’m confident I’ll get the weight off. Besides I’ve got so many good rides to look forward to, especially Mongolian Khan.”

Bosson will also be reunited in the new season with the dual Derby winner’s Group One-winning stablemates Turn Me Loose and Dal Cielo.

All’s well with Prologue

Raymond Connors believes he has Prologue back to his best for Saturday’s Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdles.

"Horses can prove you wrong, but to me he seems to be as good as he was going into Te Rapa," he said.

Prologue triumphed in the Waikato Hurdles before he was pulled up in the Awapuni Hurdles by rider Aaron Kuru.

Connors was stumped by that failure, but said Prologue had come through the race well and his work since had been up to the mark.