Top Awapuni mare Zennista is close to taking her first serious step toward a return trip to the Queensland winter carnival.
The daughter of Zenno Rob Roy enjoyed a lucrative four-start campaign there last year and Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta is preparing for more of the same this time around.
“She’ll be going to the open 1400m at Trentham on Saturday week and then head off to Brisbane again,” she said. “She’s coming up well and looks fantastic.”
A multiple Group Three winner and Group One placed at home, Zennista won the Listed Caloundra Cup on her travels last winter and was also third in both the Group 2 Brisbane Cup and the Group 3 Premier’s Cup and fourth in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup.
Zennista returned after a spell to win the Group 3 Sofitel Stakes at Ellerslie in the spring and hasn’t raced since she was unplaced in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
While she will be headed to familiar territory in Australia, it will be a new experience for her likely travelling partner King Kamada.
“He’s freshened up well and he’ll be going to the open 1400 the same day as her at Trentham,” Latta said.
“Hopefully he’ll get all the way to the Brisbane Cup and there are plenty of options over there for him.”
A four-time winner from 18 starts, King Kamada won the Summer Cup at Trentham in January and hasn’t raced since he ran a solid fifth behind Who Shot Thebarman in the Group 2 Avondale Cup.
Latta collected a winning lower grade double on her home track on Saturday with Platinum Lincoln and Jerrico, but the stable was out of luck in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.
“Platinum Balos pulled up a bit short in her action and she’s got a stone bruise and Justa Secret went a bit too hard,” Latta said.
– NZ Racing Desk
