Vicki Prendergast, like many trainers across the country, has been grappling with the recent wet weather.
However, she’s looking forward to the sunny forecast as she prepares for the final leg of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival at Hastings on Saturday.
Her Group One performer, Our Alley Cat, will be making an appearance in the Group 3 Spring Sprint (1400m), aiming for her first stakes victory.
Prendergast expressed her anticipation, saying, “We can’t get too excited until it’s actually sunny on the day, but I am pretty hopeful that we will get a good track.”
Our Alley Cat, a seven-year-old mare, had a promising preparation earlier this year, securing placements in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m), Group 3 Kings Plate (1200m), and Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
She made a notable return with a victory in a 1100m trial at Taupo in August, competing against renowned Group One winners Imperatriz and Legarto.
However, her first-up performance on a rain-affected track at Ruakaka last month saw her finish fourth.
Prendergast has been closely monitoring the weather since then and is eager to get her mare’s spring preparation back on track this weekend.
She mentioned, “She is really well, but you never know when they get a little bit older.”
Considering Our Alley Cat’s age and soundness concerns, Prendergast indicated that the broodmare paddock is a possibility if the mare doesn’t meet expectations this weekend.
She explained, “If she says she doesn’t want to do it anymore then she will be off to see a stallion.”
Despite the uncertainty, Prendergast remains hopeful of a strong showing and has her sights set on the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie in January.
Our Alley Cat has been a two-time runner-up in that race, and Prendergast believes she deserves a victory, stating, “She so deserves to win it.”