No Compromise to kick off kiwi campaign at Pukekohe

[Wandering Eyes]

Well-performed stayer No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) will bid to add a home Group One title to match his Australian efforts when he opens the third stage of his career on Boxing Day.

The son of Pins will take aim at Tuesday’s Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2050m) with Ryan Elliot booked to guide the seven-year-old’s fortunes.

He began his career from the Waverley base of Bill Thurlow, who trained the gelding for brother Grant and sister-in-law Patricia to win twice before he relocated to Chris Waller’s champion stable.

No Compromise claimed a further five victories, including the Gr.1 The Metropolitan (2400m) and signed off with a midfield finish in the Gr.2 The Ingham (1600m) at Randwick earlier this month.

“He will fly in on Sunday and run in the Zabeel Classic and then come back here,” Bill Thurlow said.

“It’s all go and he was only 3.7 lengths off them over a mile in The Ingham so that’s pretty good form. He’ll be forward enough to run a good race, there’s no doubt about that.

“He’ll come back down to the farm and spend a few days in the paddock after the Zabeel and then we’ll map out a plan for him going forward.”

While No Compromise made his mark at the elite level across the Tasman, he was paying the price for his success.

“He has probably met his mark in Australia, he was up in the weights in pretty strong company and maybe it will be a little bit easier for him here than over there,” Thurlow said.

“We think he can be competitive in the summer and then maybe look at the Livamol (Gr.1, 2040m) later next year.”

No Compromise is a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Group One performer Benaud- (Reliable Man).

He was purchased out of breeder Curraghmore’s draft at Karaka in 2018 for $40,000, which has proved to be a blue-chip investment, with his earnings having surpassed $1.15 million.

Thurlow will also have a major Boxing Day interest at the Otaki meeting where he will be represented by the progressive Frank The Tank (NZ) (Burgundy) in the Vets On Riverbank Handicap (1400m).

The son of Burgundy, who will be ridden by Bridget Grylls, has twice been successful from five appearances and has won an open trial since he accounted for a Rating 65 field at Trentham in October.

“I’m really happy with him and he had a nice jump-out and then went well in his trial. He seems to have come up very well,” Thurlow said.

Frank The Tank holds a nomination for the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic ($1 million, 1600m) at Ellerslie on January 27.

“It’s a bit of a dream obviously, but it is for four-year-olds only and he would probably have to win a couple between now and then to make it into the race,” Thurlow said.

“If he did put his hand up and won two or maybe one and did get in, then we would probably have a crack.

“It would be a very, very strong field and so it should be for that money. The owners are supportive of it and keen so if he does run well over the next month we’ll have a go.”

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