Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images
Despite a dogged effort when second behind the unbeaten Shamus in Saturday’s Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) at Trentham, the immediate future for Trelawney Stud's promising three-year-old Pareanui Bay is in the spelling paddock for the next month.
Unbeaten in his first three starts, including the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa, Pareanui Bay finished second to On The Bubbles in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day before his effort at Trentham, with trainer Tony Pike believing the signs are there that it is time for a break.
“This is just his first prep and he has been up a long time, which I think is starting to tell on him,” Pike said.
“He has had three or four tough runs and he just wasn’t as sharp as he normally is on Saturday.
“We had said we would reassess things after Saturday and I think it is pretty clear that he is telling us it is time for a break.”
A four-to-six-week spell will see Pareanui Bay miss races like the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in February and the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham in March, that he held nominations for, however Pike is comfortable with that as he looks ahead to a possible winter campaign in Brisbane.
“He is a very exciting galloper who has a lot in store for him down the track,” he said.
“As long as he spells well and comes up like I think he will, then heading to Brisbane for their winter carnival is an appealing option.
“He would be well suited in some of the good three-year-old races like the Queensland Guineas (Gr.2, 1600m) and if he is up to it, then a race like the Stradbroke (Gr.1, 1400m) could also be an option.” -NZ Racing Desk
