Callsign Mav Back On Group 1 Path

Trainer John Bary admitted his overwhelming feeling was one of relief after he watched his stable star Callsign Mav lump topweight of 63kg to an emphatic victory over 1400m at Awapuni on Saturday. According to loveracing.nz, Bary had been looking for a performance that would indicate whether his Gr1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) winner could be capable of getting beyond a sprint trip and got a definitive answer. Taken to the outside in the run home by Riddell, Callsign Mav took a few strides to get into his work before producing a barnstorming finish under a hands and heels ride to reel in his opponents and go on to a clear-cut victory. “I’ve said all along that he deserved the topweight, but weight can stop a train,” said Bary. “I think today he showed that he is a very good horse. His work has been very good and I was happier with him as he was a little tighter than he was here before Christmas when he got beaten.” Bary now has some decisions to make about Callsign Mav’s next options which could include a tilt at a Group 1 mile at Trentham. “I think he showed he can get the 1600m so the Thorndon Mile (Gr1, 1600m) is an option we will consider for him,” he said. “If we decide against that then the BCD Group Sprint (Gr.1, 1400m) at Te Rapa in February is another option.” Callsign Mav has now won four of his 14 career starts and over $234,000 in prizemoney.

Callsign Mav powered home (pic: Race Images Peter Rubery)