'Wondering' Eyes Haunui Farm Classic

Start Wondering | Trish Dunell

After New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) was scratched from the 1600-metre G1 Haunui Farm Classic early Friday morning due to injury, 2017 kiwi champion sprinter Start Wondering (NZ) (Eighth Wonder {NZ}) took over the highest-rated mantle at 105. The 7-year-old took time to hit his straps, but won twice and was twice second at the Group 1 level last season, including the G1 Sistema Railway and G1 NRM Sprint for trainers Evan and JJ Rayner. Runner-up in the 2017 edition of the Classic, the now 7-year-old gelding kicked off this campaign with second-place performance in the Listed Levin S. going 1200 metres at Otaki on Dec. 1. Only fourth in the 2017 Sistema Railway, he was last barring two in the G1 Telegraph at Wellington on Jan. 20, but squeaked out a narrow victory in the G1 BCD Group Sprint on Feb. 10, with Brilliant Shine (NZ) (Guillotine {NZ}) third.

Among his 12 rivals is Dec. 26 G1 Zabeel Classic victor Authentic Paddy (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit), who leaves from stall eight two outside of G1SW Consensus (NZ) (Postponed), while Te Akau Racing's Splurge (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), who won the Dec. 23 G2 Manawatu Challenge S. is housed in 11. The top three from the Feb. 3 G3 Taranaki Cup over 1800 metres–Beefeater (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), Scapolo (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) and Travimyfriend (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ})–also return in the cut back to a mile.

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