Harlech Targets Hastings Spring Group 1s

Co-trainer Michael Moroney will leave Harlech (Darci Brahma-Obsession, by Bachelor Duke) in New Zealand for the spring with co-trainer Pam Gerard to target the Hastings Spring Carnival, reports NZ Racing Desk. Harlech spent most of last year trained from the Flemington yard and had his first run for the season on Saturday in New Zealand, finishing in fourth. "I was really happy with his run," co-trainer Pam Gerard said of Harlech's run in the Gr2 Foxbridge Plate over 1200m. "It wasn't initially a target for him but with the trial being put off at Taupo it didn't leave us too much of a choice. It was a distance well short of what he needs so I thought he got home very strongly." His next run will be in the Gr1 Tarzino Trophy over 1400m on 18 September, before the Gr1 Windsor Park Plate over 1600m on 2 October. The final leg of the trio of Group 1s is the Gr1 Livamol Classic over 2040m on 16 October. "He will definitely head to the first two, but it is always hard to go down there every two weeks," Gerard said. "He is pretty well-travelled and has had three runs under his belt in Melbourne already. He has probably got a bit more stamina in him than others may have. We will just take it one race at a time and see how we go." Harlech won the Gr2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes over 1400m as a 3YO, and placed in the Gr1 Levin Classic. At four, he won the Benalla Cup to take his record to three wins and five placings from 17 starts. His dam won the Gr2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes.

Harlech will remain in New Zealand (pic: Race Images)