A long-range plan for Crimson Sky is gaining momentum and if she goes well again at Trentham today it will confirm a crack at the end goal of the group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
The Cody Cole-trained 3-year-old will round off her preparation for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic the group 2 Lowland Stakes (2100m).
"The three-week gap to the Oaks will give us a nice opportunity to take her to Ellerslie for a gallop. She has trialled there and another look around will be really beneficial," Cole said.
The daughter of Ocean Park was bought out of Woburn Farm’s draft at Karaka for $20,000 by Adrian Clark’s Challenge Racehorse Syndications, who have enjoyed previous Oaks success in 2020 with the Shaune Ritchie-trained Jennifer Eccles.
Crimson Sky has made sound progress and gained an early black-type credit when a close third in the Desert Gold Stakes at her last start.
"She had a half-a-mile [800m] trial at Avondale a while back and then kicked off over 1200m at Rotorua," Cole said.
"I called Adrian after that and I said this is going to sound a bit ludicrous, but we have to get her to the Desert Gold and Trentham will suit her.
"We worked back from that and picked out a maiden over 1300m at Tauranga where she ran a massive race [for second].
"She’s just kept improving."
Crimson Sky ran 1600m out strongly in the Desert Gold at Trentham and improved underfoot conditions will ideally suit her on her return.
"She was terrific and I think on a better track, you would have seen a better turn of foot. Her wheels were spinning a bit," Cole said.
"She’s stepping from a mile [1600m] to 2100m, and we opted for this race because she’s not a filly that would like any kick-back at Te Rapa.
"The two-week back-up from a trip to Wellington is tough, but we’ve already seen that she’s a tough filly and can cope with a bit of pressure."
Cole will have a team of seven at Trentham with Navigator (Mode Sprint) and Miss Jones (Harcourts Sprint) two other leading prospects.
Navigator improved his record on the course at the highest level with his last-start second in the group 1 Telegraph after finishing third in the 2025 edition of the feature sprint.
"He’s got to carry 62kg but he’s a big horse and I don’t think that’s going to be too much of a worry. He loves the Trentham chute. If he’s on his game he should be really hard to beat," Cole said. — LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
By Paul Vettise
