New Zealand’s champion sprinter will step up to a mile next time out.

Start Wondering Picture:Kenton Wright

Star Wanganui galloper Start Wondering will be given the chance to add another Group One title to his record at Otaki on Saturday week.

“He’ll run in the Haunui Farm Classic and then he’ll have a spell,” said Evan Rayner, who trains the six-year-old with his daughter J. J. “He’s been up for a while and there aren’t any other races for him anyway.”

While Start Wondering has been in lethal form over short-course distances, he also has an imposing record over 1600 metres.

He posted three wins and three placings at the trip for his former trainer Paul Belsham and he was also successful over 1500 metres at Rosehill from Chris Waller’s stable before a bleeding attack resulted in his return home.

Start Wondering doubled his Group One tally at Te Rapa on the weekend when he earned top honours in the NRM Sprint for regular rider Johnathan Parkes.

“He was out in the paddock up there for half an hour before we left and got home about midnight,” Rayner said.

“He’s taken it all in his stride – nothing worries him at all.”

The winner of the Gr.1 Railway Stakes on his previous trip north, Start Wondering was narrowly denied a feature sprint treble when he was beaten a nose by Signify in the Gr.1 Telegraph.

“He probably got to the front a bit too soon and he was run down by the horse with the lighter weight,” Rayner said.

“I’ve been training since 1969 and been lucky enough to have some very good horses like Van Winkle and Raywood Lass, who was a Group One winner, but this horse would be steps ahead of them.”