Group One performer Archaic Smile has taken significant benefit from her first-up outing and another top showing is expected from the filly at Hastings.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior finished runner-up in her three-year-old debut last month and will bid to go one better in Saturday’s Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
“I was happy with her return at Taupo where the track was against her, she wants a firm surface and from gate one she was caught in the worst part of it,” trainer Tony Pike said.
“She raced a touch fresh but fought on well and had a good blow afterwards, she has definitely improved off the run and will need to.
“Obviously, Alabama Express was very impressive that day and will be extremely hard to beat on Saturday.”
Ryan Elliot will retain the ride on Archaic Smile, who won the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) last season, finished runner-up in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Time will tell if the filly can go a step further in trip to master a mile in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“The top four of five fillies are in the same boat, they’ll all run out 1200 and 1400m and whether they run a strong mile at Riccarton has yet to be seen,” Pike said.
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