Ben and Ryan Foote will be represented by a pair of stakes contenders at Te Rapa and are expecting bold showings from the duo.
The father and son training partnership’s feature race hopes on Saturday rest with Nancy She Wrote (NZ) (Wrote) in the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) and Rayet (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
The former has been in good recent form in the lower grades and was narrowly beaten two runs back by subsequent Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) winner Nereus (NZ) (Savabeel) at Trentham.
She returned to the capital earlier this month and was a fast-finishing fourth after rider Michael McNab had trouble plotting a clear path for the Wrote mare.
“She drew wide and jumped well and had to be pulled back and things went against her, but Michael was really keen to stick with her so that’s always a good sign,” Ben Foote said.
“She’s up to good company and she’s racing well, but has got back a bit and run into some bad luck.
“She has drawn a better alley (seven) and we would confidently ride her closer.”
Rayet has made a promising start to her career with a brace of victories and a runner-up finish from six appearances.
At her most recent outing, the Tivaci filly bungled the start and got home strongly for sixth under Courtney Barnes who will again take the reins.
“To be honest, I’m quietly confident she can be right in it,” Foote said.
“She has showed a lot and she stepped up to the Rating 75 grade quite quickly, I really rate her.
“She’s starting to race a lot more kindly now, and I think she’s a big chance on Saturday.”
Foote will also send Enthusiastic (NZ) (War Decree) back to the Central Districts for the Commdives NZ 3YO (1340m) at Wanganui on Saturday.
The son of War Decree was a last-start maiden winner at Otaki and is expected to fully realise his potential when seasoned enough to step up over more ground.
“He’s a staying type and wasn’t quite ready for a mile, otherwise I would have run him at Te Rapa,” he said.
“Once he gets up to 2000m, I think he can be quite a smart horse.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Charmer (NZ) (Charm Spirit) will be chasing a long overdue first victory in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m) at Matamata on Friday.
The Charm Spirit three-year-old has placed seven times from 12 starts, including a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and third in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m), and most recently ran fifth at Otaki.
“She drew the outside last time and had to be pulled right back and we probably should have ridden her forward,” Foote said.
“She just needs the slightest bit of luck and she wins.”
Barnmate Mars (NZ) also didn’t have a lot of luck last time out and the Zoustar filly will get her opportunity to turn her form around when she drops back to Rating 60 company in the Mount Maunganui RSA (1600m).