Prestige Cup hopes for emerging stayer

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Paul Harris is eyeing major staying targets this season with his promising mare Wannabe ‘N’ Paris (NZ) (Reliable Man) and longer-term would dearly love to travel further afield to Australia.

The Rangiora-based horseman prepared the daughter of Reliable Man to claim top honours in Sunday’s Cromwell Cup (2030m) and confirm plans for a northern campaign.

“She deserved that, she’s been a model of consistency and punched way above her weight in some really nice races,” Harris said.

“It was a very, very good ride and I said to Kavish (Chowdhoory) I’ve put the blinkers on and she may dwell at the start so, if she does, just ride her conservatively and it worked out beautifully.”

Harris has now set his sights on the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on January 29.

“The Wellington Cup will be the main aim now and I’m not ruling out a crack at the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) as well,” he said.

In 2003, Harris campaigned his Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) Hustler and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Mike across the Tasman with mixed results and has hopes Wannabe ‘N’ Paris can make her mark there in the future.

“We went to Queensland with them and unfortunately Mike broke down before the Brisbane Cup (then Gr.1, 3200m). Everyone has dreams and I’ve said to the owners this is the first horse since I took Mike and Hustler to Australia that I believe can end up there as well,” he said.

“If you reach for the stars and you come up short you are still a few miles in front of most people so why not have a dream of the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) next year.

“It may become a reality and I do think she is a very, very high-class stayer and whatever she’s done, she will be a better horse in 12 months.”

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