Gore trainer Ellis Winsloe is spoilt for choice with Accidental Offside who won the open sprint at Ascot Park on Saturday.
The 6yr-old made it back-to-back sprinting wins when he held out King Pin at the popular Invercargill Christmas At The Races meeting. Accidental Offside has returned from a spell in such good form Winsloe is not sure where to race him next.
"I will have to sit down and study the programme and decide where to go next.
"He could go to Dunedin on Boxing Day or to the Timaru Cup.
"But he has only had two runs back so I am not sure whether I really want to race him against the big boys just yet. I don’t want to over-race him over Christmas."
Winsloe has a raft of options in front of him for Accidental Offside as the horse is proven at distances of 1200m to 2000m.
The trainer said he intended to step the horse back up over a middle distance at some point during his current campaign. But with him showing such brilliant form over sprint trips, racing over 2000m may not be in his immediate future.
"I was planning to step him back up this time in. But it won’t be until he is able to settle.
"That was his problem last season. He led into the straight in the Riverton Cup, but he just pulled too hard."
Part of Accidental Offside’s progression this season was down to the horse maturing, Winsloe said.
"They are all big horses from that breed [by No Excuse Needed], but he is built like an ox.
"He had splints last time in. They didn’t worry him too much, but he has just taken a bit of time."
"He has got a massive frame, so carrying weight later on is not going to worry him."
An aggressive ride from Corey Campbell helped Gallant Boy win the Southland Crystals at Ascot Park on Saturday.
Campbell stoked the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained back-runner up well before the home turn to take control of the 2150m feature.
The move paid off when Gallant Boy won by more than two lengths from Come Fly With Me and Shantav.
Campbell reported to stewards he felt The Precious One did not see out the distance of her 1600m race when a beaten favourite earlier in the programme.
Western Southland trainer Stephen Blair-Edie backed up two wins at Wingatui on Friday with three at Ascot Park. Blair Edie scored with Moss Jazz, Waimate Bill and Wild Jack.
They were ridden by Blair-Edie’s apprentice, Amless Bohorun, who scored his first winning treble in the saddle.
