Jimmy Choux has shortened to a $1.50 favourite on the New Zealand TAB for the $300,000 Spring Classic at Hastings tomorrow.
Jimmy Choux paid $1.90 to win the weight-for-age Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings a fortnight ago. His dashing win confirmed his bold bid for second in the Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings on August 27. Jimmy Choux should take the step up to 2040m in his stride. He won the NZ Derby (2400m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) last season.
Hold It Harvey, who ran on solidly for second in the Windsor Park Plate, won the Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) with 57kg in April. He ran fourth in the Spring Classic last year when the race was won by Wall Street.
Jamie Bullard, who rode Hold It Harvey to win the Awapuni Cup, Thompson Handicap at Trentham and White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui, is back in the saddle.
Bullard won the Spring Classic (formerly the Kelt Stakes) on Balmuse in 2004.
Balmuse was trained by Kevin Myers, who has Titch in the race tomorrow. The $1897 late entry fee was paid for Titch and New Moon.
Opie Bosson is back on Titch.
This was a winning combination in the Auckland Cup (3200m) in March. Titch has had three races in a fresh campaign and he finished third to Back In Black and Seaflyte with 57kg over 2000m at Hastings on September 17.
Bosson has won the Hastings feature on Distinctly Secret (2003) and Princess Coup (2007).
New Moon has not raced beyond 1600m. He won a $60,000 race over the distance at Tauranga in April.
Booming hinted at a return to form when running on for fifth in the Windsor Park Plate. He won the Zabeel Classic (wfa, 2000m) at Ellerslie in December. His trainer Jeff Lynds has won the Hastings feature the past two years with Vosne Romanee and Wall Street.
