Hughes eyeing bigger prize with impressive debutant

Impressive triallist Show Bazz (NZ) (Showcasing) made an eye-catching debut when he trounced his maiden rivals over 1200m at Ashburton on Saturday.

The Showcasing three-year-old had won a 1000m trial at Motukarara back in January and backed that up post the COVID19 lockdown with another comfortable victory at Rangiora in June over 850m.

Co-trainer Kevin Hughes, who prepares the gelding with wife Pam, wasn’t keen to line his charge up on the heavy surfaces presented at their home base at Riccarton in recent weeks, preferring to wait for the Dead6 on offer at Ashburton.

Handled confidently by stable apprentice Sanu Toolooa, Show Bazz settled comfortably behind the pace before hugging the rail around the home turn to join issue with the leaders. Toolooa hardly had to ask for a serious effort as Show Bazz strode clear and delivered a comfortable one and a quarter-length victory over race favourite Pete (NZ) (Pins) with Exclaim (NZ) (Excelebration) close up in third.

“You always hope that this is what they can do for you but against the older horses you never know,” Hughes said.

“It was a very good effort as he seemed to work away from them quite comfortably without being asked to do too much, he looked like he was just playing with them.

“I was surprised how easily he did it and Sanu said when he got into the clear he just changed gear.

“We didn’t start him at home as it has been too heavy for him so we came here for the better track and it worked out nicely.”

Show Bazz was purchased by owner Barry Thomas CNZM for $95,000 from the draft of his co-breeders Trelawney Stud at the 2019 NZB Ready To Run Sale, with Hughes believing he got a real bargain.

“We got a bit lucky when we bought him as we were just sitting there after a couple of high-priced lots had gone through the ring,” he said.

“There was a bit of a lull in the sale so we got him at a really good price as I did expect to have to pay a bit more for him.”