Gasnier, who recorded his third win on end and his fourth from his past five starts in the Waimate Cup on Sunday, will be looking to extend his record at the Grand National meeting next month."There is a rating 90, 2000m race for him at the national meeting, but I will see how he does over the next few days before deciding on his next start, Danny Champion, his Ashburton trainer, said yesterday.
"If I feel he needs a freshener then I will set him for the New Zealand Cup meeting."
Champion (36), races the 4-year-old with his partner, Amanda Brown.
Gasnier, named after St George-Illawarra and Australian rugby league centre Mark Gasnier, is by Victory Dance from Phoszam and has won five of his 14 starts.
Champion exercised a right of purchase on the horse after he won the $35,000 Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton on May 23.
"He was owned by a woman who worked for me. She and her partner purchased him at Karaka but due to over-commitments she decided to lease him."
"He has surprised me a bit. I think he is better on top of the ground rather than on the rain-affected tracks he has been winning on."
Champion has been at Ashburton two years.
Originally from New Plymouth, he gained his early knowledge of racing working for John Wheeler.
"I brought Sir Barton south when he won the Grand National in 1991 and stayed in Christchurch settling at Broadfield."
"I gained more knowledge working for Riccarton trainers Barry Taggart and Dave Kerr," Champion added.
Champion also won with Spot On who made it a hat trick on Sunday.
"Spot On will have her next start on the first day of the National meeting."
"I hold her in high regard."
Spot On is a 3yr-old by No Excuse Needed from Recent Lady.
Champion says he usually has about eight horses in work but the majority of them are turned out at present.
• Champion Australian jumps jockey Craig Durden will ride on the second and third days of the Grand National meeting.
It will be the first time Durden has ridden on the track.
An eight-time winner of the Australian jump jockeys' premiership, Durden will ride on Grand National Hurdles day on August 6 and Grand National Steeplechase day on August 9.
Durden won the Macdonald Steeplechase at Moonee Valley on Saturday aboard Shrogginet.
He won the McGregor Grant Steeplechase on the Ben Foote-trained Proposition at Ellerslie on June 2.
• Sand Sweeper has been turned out by trainer John Wheeler.
The 7yr-old appeared to be jaded after his splendid last-start win in the St Steven Steeplechase (3200m) at Moonee Valley on June 21.
The 7yr-old was transferred from the Wingatui stable of his co-owner Hec Anderton to the Wheeler stable in Melbourne in January.
He won the Kilmore and Pakenham Cups and won his first start over hurdles at Moe in May.
Anderton races the Sandtrap gelding with Eric Parr, of Ashburton.
• Zman Zulkifli, the Wingatui apprentice, rode his first winner at his second raceday ride when he was successful on Sunkai at Ashburton on Sunday.
Zulkifli, from Malaysia, is apprenticed to Terry Kennedy, who also won with Millbrook Lass, who was having her second start.
• Beautiful Unicorn won a rating 1400m at Ruakaka on Saturday 25 hours after the Faltaat 3yr-old finished fourth in a rating 70 1200m on the same track.
