The White Robe Lodge principal will be chasing group success in the North Island today after sending eight-win gelding Mayor Of Norwood north to Trentham to contest the group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m).
Anderton, who trains in partnership with his son Shane, said the 7-year-old son of Ghibellines had handled the marathon trip with aplomb and settled in well ahead of his weekend assignment.
"He has travelled terrific and has eaten up well," he said.
Mayor Of Norwood heads into the 3200m feature in good form, having won his last two outings, both over 2200m on his home track.
He has been tested over 3200m only once before, finishing 14th in the 2024 New Zealand Cup, and distance remains Anderton’s biggest query regarding his prospects.
"He is like a lot of the others — he has got to get two miles [3200m]," Anderton said.
He is looking forward to testing his gelding in the North Island for the first time, where he will jump from barrier 1 and carry 56.5kg with Corey Campbell aboard.
"He has done all he can down here as far as weights go," Anderton said of the horse.
"He has great owners and he has been handled very quietly in the first part of his career and he has risen to the occasion."
Closer to home, Anderton will send half a dozen runners to Gore tomorrow, including promising 3-year-old fillies Assemble and Golden Spirit, who will contest race 7, the listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m).
Homebred Almanzor filly Assemble has shown plenty of ability to date, placing on debut over 1200m at Gore last month before winning her maiden over 1300m at Wingatui a fortnight ago.
Golden Spirit, who is by White Robe Lodge resident stallion Ancient Spirit, was up against her stablemate in both outings, finishing runner-up both times.
Anderton said they will likely adopt different tactics with her this weekend.
"Assemble has done well and the other filly [Golden Spirit] has done well too," he said.
"Golden Spirit over-raced a bit here [Wingatui] in that maiden race. We might ride her a wee bit forward and use her speed a bit."
All going to plan, the fillies are set to follow the Southern Guineas Series, which will head to Ascot Park on February 14 for the Southland Guineas (1400m) before culminating in the Dunedin Guineas (1600m) at Wingatui a fortnight later. — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
By Joshua Smith
