Cup doubt for Asterix

The chances of seeing Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Asterix on the track this spring are slim according to co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan.

The son of Tavistock was an impressive winner of the blue riband event back in March off an unconventional preparation of just four starts for O’Sullivan and training partner Andrew Scott.

Part-owner Sam Kelt immediately flagged the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) as a spring target for smart staying three-year-old, who has stamina in his pedigree, however ongoing foot issues could thwart that plan.

“We have been plagued with problems with his feet all along, even prior to the Derby and we are still struggling with it,” O’Sullivan said.

“He has been out and had a spell and been brought back into the yard but there may have to be further remedial work done on his feet.

“At this stage a spring campaign in Melbourne is looking highly unlikely, which is a little bit disappointing.

“But he will keep. He is only a young horse that is three, rising four, and we are probably now more looking towards an autumn campaign.”

Secret Amour stays local

Five-year-old mare Secret Amour will not join Robbie Patterson’s touring party in Queensland despite turning in a slashing performance to finish third to Francesca in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Rydges Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at Arawa Park.

The daughter of Niagara joined Patterson’s team earlier this year from the Jamie Richards stable and made an immediate impact, winning an open handicap at Wanganui last month after coming from last.

“She had a couple of issues late in her career at Te Akau, but they had done a fantastic job with her and she had won four races for them,” Patterson said.

“I am only picking up from where they left off. I am grateful to get her and she is a magnificent mare. Her win first-up was phenomenal and her run the other day at Rotorua was virtually a winning run, without winning.

“We thought about taking her to Australia, but she won at Wanganui last time and there is a Listed race (AGC Training Stakes at WFA) there over a mile on June 4.

“It is all about black-type for these mares and given the way she won at Wanganui first-up, she obviously likes the track and she will love a mile. It will be her race to lose, I’d imagine, at weight-for-age.”

Gospodin in search of Stradbroke berth

Tauranga horseman Jim Pender has ventured further north with his charge Gospodin as he looks to add further Australian dollars to the bank account.

The son of Proisir has proved adept in rain-affected conditions and after impressing when second at his first Australian start in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford, Gospodin is now in Queensland where he will contest Saturday’s Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben, where the track is currently a Heavy 10.

“He has been a happy horse from the day he arrived and he raced accordingly at Gosford,” Pender told Bensley.

“I was over the moon with the run. He is probably not as bouncy as he was, he was on the fresher side going into that race but I am very pleased with him.”

Gospodin emerged as a very good wet-weather sprinter last winter, winning six races in a row between early June and early October.

Brock Ryan will again take the ride on the talented four-year-old on Satuday, where Pender hopes his charge can force his way into the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.

“I put a nomination in for the Stradbroke but he would have to win this to get in it,” he said.

“You travel all this way so it is worth putting a nomination in. You have your fingers crossed and hope we get a reasonable draw so he doesn’t have to do a lot of work.”