IN Racing
Trainer on move has strong hand to play at Ellerslie
“It’s going to be a wet track on Saturday, he appreciates a bit of moisture and he’s going so well.”
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk | April 17, 2025
Toretto will contest the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images

Hollie Wynyard is in the process of relocating her training base, but it will be a quartet of strong chances at Ellerslie on Saturday that has her immediate attention.

The Cambridge trainer’s runners are spearheaded by talented youngster Toretto in the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m), with Up The Anti (Manco 2100m), Colorado Silver (trackside.co.nz, 1600m) and Pitkin County (KRA Trophy, 1400m) strong supporting acts.

Wynyard and her partner, jockey Ryan Elliot, are currently developing a new property.

“We bought 30 acres up Victoria Road so we’re moving everything there and we’ll have a track, we are building boxes and we should be in there in a couple of weeks,” she said.

“We’ll only be 10 minutes from the Cambridge track, so we’ll still use that every day.

“We’ll also have the option of doing something different with the uphill 600m track at home, which will be especially good for the younger horses.”

The new property provided a blank canvass and had since undergone significant change.

“Goat farmers owned it and they just used it to cut the grass for the goats, so it was a big paddock with no fencing,” Wynyard said.

“We’ve done it all from scratch, which has been really cool and done it how we want, it’s been a bit costly but we’re getting there.”

A good day at Ellerslie this weekend will be welcome, and Toretto is in the right order to potentially contribute to the development fund.

The son of Ardrossan has a win and two placings from five appearances and has been freshened since a luckless unplaced run in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).

He emphasised his readiness to return when he was an easy winner of his 800m heat at Foxton on Tuesday.

“He probably surprised me how easy he did it and how forward I have got him,” Wynyard said.

“It’s going to be a wet track on Saturday, he appreciates a bit of moisture and he’s going so well.”

With Elliot suspended, Vinnie Colgan will partner Toretto while George Rooke is on last start second Up The Anti and Warren Kennedy will ride Colorado Silver, another who was runner-up at her most recent start.

“Up The Anti and Colorado Silver both like Ellerslie and getting their toes into the ground,” Wynyard said.

“Up The Anti was massive last time and he has won over 2100m there before and Colorado Silver had a bit of a niggle last prep and she has come back super, I think they should both go pretty close.”

Masa Hashizume will be aboard Pitkin County, who has benefitted from her last two outings following a lengthy stint on the sideline.

“She had really bad kissing spine, so she had surgery and a long time off,” Wynyard said.

“She pulled up really well from last Sunday, she bounced through it so I thought we might as well strike while the iron’s hot.”