The direction of Tommyra’s winter campaign will hinge on his performance at Hastings late this month.
A last-start winner of the K.S. Browne Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie, Tommyra is being set for the Te Whangai Romneys Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) at Hastings on Saturday week with trainer Toby Autridge planning to use a rating 72 2100m at Tauranga this weekend to further his preparation for the next jumps assignment.
Tommyra, a son of Raise The Flag, has won three of his six hurdle starts and been placed on the other occasions, including a third two starts ago in the Waikato Hurdles (3200m) at Te Rapa.
The options being considered for Tommyra are Australia, the Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton on August 7 and the Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) at Ellerslie on September 7.
“We’ll be wiser after the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle,” Autridge said. “Doug (part-owner and breeder Doug Robb) lets me make the plans, but he has said that he would love to have a go at the Grand National. It will all depend on the weather where he goes.
“As for Australia, I’m not so sure. It could be a bit risky taking him over there. Sure he jumps well, but he doesn’t like schooling much and he has to school to qualify when he gets there. It’s something we’ll have to consider before we finally decide where to go.”