The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
A homebred son of resident sire Roc De Cambes, Antrim Coast flourished in the latter stages of his three-year-old term, finishing second to Orchestral in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) before winning the Gr.2 Alistair Clark Stakes (2040m) and finishing fourth in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m).
Antrim Coast was initially trained by Cambridge horseman Stephen Marsh, but following his three-year-old campaign, The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams opted to leave the gelding in Australia in the care of Steve Richards.
“There were so many different options for him over there,” Williams said.
“He finished the season with a rating of 98, which meant he was going to be topweight in most of the handicaps in New Zealand, where in Australia, he can run in a Listed race and not be in that position.
“There were choices in every state for him, it was just down to opportunities.”
Antrim Coast was galloped on when resuming in the Seymour Cup (1600m) last month, providing an explanation for an uncharacteristic performance, and Williams has faith the gelding will have plenty to offer in Tuesday’s contest.
“He had a big three-year-old year then was galloped on in his first run back in the Seymour Cup, so he had a legitimate excuse,” Williams said.
“It happened very early in the race, Mick Dee (jockey) said he didn’t feel right and we found out afterwards. Fortunately, it wasn’t career-ending and it wasn’t the tendon, he’s fine now.
“We feel he is a great each-way chance tomorrow, he’s at false odds at $41 definitely.
“The only reservation is we’ve seen horses that have had a tough three-year-old year often don’t come up as four-year-olds in the spring, but all other indicators would be that he’ll go a big race.
“We’re going to keep going up in distance, he ran at a mile in the Seymour Cup and the 1800m is short of his best trip, but Flemington second-up, we’d like to think we’ll see something from him tomorrow.”
Williams’ son Dean is an assistant trainer to Richards, and he, alongside The Oaks Stud principal Dick Karreman, have been supportive of the growing stable.
“Dean and Steve have a couple of young ones there for us, one I bought myself with a few mates, and Dick has given him a Pierro filly, they’re just babies,” Williams said.
“They’ve only got seven boxes at the moment so that’s all he can train with Steve, but we are hoping they can get 13 boxes which would be enough. At the moment, he’s just starting out like everyone else, and hopefully Antrim Coast can give him a good kick-on tomorrow.”
Later in the week, The Oaks will turn their focus towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), where their colt Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) will aim to cap off a phenomenal spring campaign.
The son of Savabeel is trained by Pam Gerard, who has prepared him to win both the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Gr.2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) in the lead-up to Saturday’s feature at Riccarton Park.
“I’d say he’ll improve off the run in the Sarten and Pam had him that way, that he’ll keep improving,” Williams said.
“I don’t think right-handed is his favourite way of going, but he might get better at that with time. He’s done everything right and he’s improved in every race, he’ll go into Saturday spot-on I think. Hopefully, he can give a career-best performance.
“He is a very intelligent horse, he’s become more and more professional in the way he races. He settles better, he listens to Sam (Spratt, jockey) and I’m expecting a big run from him on Saturday.
“I see he’s a $2 favourite, but it’s a horse race, so anything can happen.”
