Black type winner Astor is unlikely to be straying too far from home next season.

“She’s a real 1200m horse and there are a couple of races at the Hawke’s Bay carnival, but she’s a much better horse right-handed,” Matamata trainer Cody Cole said.

Targets for the rising four-year-old will instead focus on Ellerslie where she has won twice, including success in the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) and finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m).

“Ideally, we would like to get her to the Group One there,” said Cole, referring to the Railway (1200m). “Obviously, she would have to win a couple of races along the way.”

Astor hasn’t raced since was unplaced in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) off a torrid run.

“She was four wide for the trip and put up the white flag quite early,” Cole said. 

“She had a good break after that and she came back into work 10 days ago. She’s come back bigger and better.”

Cole also has high hopes for trial winner Times Time, a well-related filly who will make her debut in the Almanzor at Cambridge Stud 2YO (900m) at Ruakaka on Saturday.

“We quite like her, she’s got a motor and 900m will be perfect for her,” he said. “She’ll jump and run.”

By Moshe, she is part-owned by Taupo breeder Murray Jones who has enjoyed black type success with Times Time’s family.

He raced the filly’s grand-mother Dreamworks, who won the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m), and her dam Slanchyvah, a dual Group One placegetter.

Cole will also be represented by The Helix, a last-start third on the track, in the Racing Sunday August 12 Maiden (1600m).

“He got home strongly a fortnight ago and he’s gone the right way since,” he said.