Terri Rae holds black-type aspirations for several of her stable representatives this spring, with talented mares Dazzling Miss and Chapinteel among those resuming through the week at the southern meetings.
At Timaru on Wednesday, Chapinteel will headline Rae’s contingent when kicking off her spring campaign in the Love Racing And Remembering Grey Way Open (1600m).
The daughter of Savabeel went swiftly through the grades since breaking her maiden in January, picking up consecutive Rating 65 and 75 victories up to 2000m before heading to the spelling paddock.
After returning to the trials last month, Rae has been eyeing better track conditions for Chapinteel, which will dictate whether the five-year-old takes her place mid-week or on the Riccarton card this Saturday.
“She’s had a couple of trials back in but they’ve been on rain-affected ground, so she is a maybe runner on Saturday depending on the weather,” Rae said.
“If there was any rain, she’ll run on Wednesday and it looks to be good footing for her there.
“It’s been a long time since she was at the races and she’s had a nice long spell, so she’ll benefit from Wednesday’s run.
“She will be looking at some black-type options during the spring, just as long as she comes up.”
Earlier at Timaru, classy filly Lavender Haze will return to maiden company off the back of her third placing in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m), a race won by Raziah.
She will take her place in the Maiden 3YO (1200m).
“She went really well in the Canterbury Belle, she was a bit of a victim of circumstance and ended up in front a bit early at the top of the straight,” Rae said.
“She actually held on really well so we were very pleased with her.
“It was a month between runs for her heading to the Barneswood (Group 3, 1400m) and she’s done so well, so she’ll have this run on Wednesday.
“We’ll take it one step at a time, but obviously if she keeps going well we will keep moving forward.”
Her four-year-old stablemate Full Moon Fever was another impressive placegetter on that day, finishing a narrow second to a heavily backed favourite in Age Of Discovery.
“He was really good first-up, he made the winner work right to the line and that horse had a big reputation,” Rae said.
“He should be hard to beat on Wednesday and a good draw always helps.”
The Oaks Stud-owned gelding will contest the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m) with Leah Hemi engaged to ride, while stable apprentice Denby-Rose Tait will take the reins aboard Rocmont in the Jon Snow @ Clearview Park (1600m).
“He’s another horse that is having a kick-off so he’ll benefit fresh-up at a mile,” Rae said.
“Denby is riding very well, she’s riding winners every week. It’s actually been hard to get her on our horses, because we book her for something and she’ll be rung about another horse.
“I always advise her to ride the outside horse but it’s great that she can ride this guy and get those three kilograms off, she knows him well.”
Back home on Saturday, Dazzling Miss will start her path towards New Zealand Cup Week with the Group 3 TAB Mile (1600m) in Rae’s sights.
The Proisir mare was a model of consistency last season, winning three races alongside placings in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge WFA (1600m), Group 3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m), Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) and Group 3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m).
“It will be her fresh-up run back in this prep and also for Aristocrat, who is in the same ownership,” Rae said.
“We’ve got a lot at the moment who are kicking off.
“She will probably look at the Coupland’s (now TAB) Mile as her main target, and possibly the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m) prior to that. We definitely have black-type targets for her.”
Aristocrat, who is also raced by breeders Monovale Holdings, holds an early nomination for the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November.
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