Brian and Shane Anderton have designs on another trip to Riccarton Park next month, with Saturday’s feature meeting giving an indication on where their talented contingent will feature during Cup Week.
The Wingatui partnership will have representatives in both the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) and Listed Sothy’s Spring Classic (2000m), in the form of Cloche (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines).
A filly by Ghibellines, Cloche was a winner on debut at her home course in June, before making a strong account of herself behind Age Of Discovery in the Guineas Trial (1400m) four weeks ago. A run in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) was next on the cards for Cloche, but after refusing to enter the barriers, she was late scratched.
The Andertons returned home and were pleased with her performance in a jump-out last week, warranting another trip to Canterbury for the $100,000 feature.
“She’s always shown a lot of potential and ability, but she’s got a wee bit stubborn in the last couple of starts,” Shane Anderton said.
“She had to get a clearance, so she had a jump-out on Thursday and she went really nicely. We’ve put a barrier blindfold on her so hopefully she can go and behave herself this time.
“She won on a wetter track, but the forecast doesn’t sound too great, so we’ll find out when we get there.”
Cloche holds a nomination for the Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), but after missing a run, Anderton said the filly would have to make a bold account of herself to continue on to the Group One.
“It’s going to be a test, we’ve missed a run now so we’re hopping straight up to the mile which isn’t ideal,” he said.
“We’re behind the eight-ball now, so she’ll have to run pretty well to go onto the Guineas.”
For her older stablemate Mayor Of Norwood, the Spring Classic is another stepping stone towards his main target, the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m). Another progeny of the White Robe Lodge stallion, Mayor Of Norwood has scarcely run a bad race in his career and pleased the Anderton’s in two runs this campaign.
“He’s coming up nicely, Ashburton isn’t really his track as he’s the sort of horse that gets back and needs the long straight to get wound up,” Anderton said.
“We’re heading in the right direction, we’re looking to get some more mileage under his belt because he’ll hopefully be going to the New Zealand Cup.
“We probably won’t go to the Metropolitan, but we’ll get Saturday out of the way and see where he’s at, whether he needs another run.”
The Andertons’ trio will be completed by talented mare Inflamed, who ran a narrow second to Tumuch at the venue last month. She will remain at the distance when contesting the Commodore Hotel Rating 75 (1200m).
“I was pretty happy with her run, they went pretty quick that day and she’s taken good improvement out of that,” Anderton said.
“We’re trying something new now, she’s always had a lot of speed and we tried to get her out a bit further, but I think we’ll just stick to the shorter trips at the moment.”
