Exciting galloper Costazita makes his keenly anticipated return to racing in tomorrow’s Kerry Andersen Hall Of Fame Handicap (1200m) at Belmont Park
The four-year-old made a stylish debut at Ascot last December and has been patiently handled by trainer Trevor Andrews ahead of his new campaign.
Costazita produced an encouraging 1000m trial at Belmont when third to Augment earlier this month.
Andrews said he wasn’t happy with how the gelding came through his debut run and hoped the patient approach would pay dividends this campaign.
“He’s a very nice horse that was pretty impressive the last time we stepped him out,” Andrews told TABradio.
“He didn’t pull up too well after his run at Ascot.
“We couldn’t pinpoint any specific reason.
“(Owners) John and Sharon Molloy took him home and gave him a good rest and they weren’t in any hurry to get him back to the races.”
The son of A Lot is the $3 Unibet favourite for his return tomorrow, ahead of Bread To Flirt ($5.50), Famous Jurney ($6) and Collective ($7).
Andrews said tomorrow would provide a good guide on what this campaign would look like for Costazita.
“He’s drawn a nice gate tomorrow against a more experienced bunch, but he’s in good order,” he said.
“We will just go through our grades at this present moment.
“It’s just one step at a time.”
Meanwhile, Andrews is starting to assemble a quality team to tackle this year’s Pinnacles at Ascot.
A Lot Of Good Men, a winner at three of his six starts to date, has returned to work and will return in the Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) in October.
All The Kings Men, a last start Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) winner, will return to work next week and look to target the TABtouch-Gold Rush (1400m) in December.
