Fresh from his first success as a trainer, Takahide Ikenushi is already eyeing off his first feature win with Vane Tempest.
The tough mare was a dominant winner of Saturday’s Furphy Handicap (1300m) at Belmont, her third run in as many weeks.
Takahide Ikenushi, who rode more than 450 winners in the saddle, said he would aim the mare at races like the Jungle Mist Classic (1200m) and Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m) during The Pinnacles.
“Hopefully we will give her one more start (before a spell),” Ikenushi told TABradio.
“Scenic Lodge own the horse so I will try to get blacktype if I can.
“We will try to go to the fillies and mare’s races after a short break.”
The five-year-old mare took her record to seven wins and nine placings from 26 starts in her career to date.
Vane Tempest was unplaced behind Angelic Miss in her only start at blacktype level in last year’s Jungle Mist Classic.
Ikenushi, who last rode in February, said he had no plans to expand his stable yet and indicated he had plenty to do outside of training his own horses.
“We have eight to 10 ourselves and some pre-trainers for Steve Wolfe,” he said.
“At this stage we are happy with those numbers.”
Meanwhile, prominent owner Brad Spicer has flagged a potential Pinnacles tilt with three-year-old No Drama.
Spicer said the Lindsey Smith-trained gelding could book his ticket to Perth for the Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) if he performed well in Victoria through the spring.
