A break in the weather will certainly rule Hard Merchandize out of next month’s Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas in Christchurch.

“I haven’t decided yet, but he definitely won’t be going if it looks like a hard track, it can get very, very firm there,” trainer and part-owner Gary Vile said.

Hard Merchandize led all the way to win Saturday’s Gr. 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas and has breezed through the race.

“He pulled up brilliantly, he’s very bright,” said Vile, who has an obvious eye on January’s Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie with the son of Burgundy.