Chrissy Bambry has put all her eggs in one basket at Trentham on Saturday, although it’s not by design with few other opportunities to split her runners.
The Foxton trainer has been forced to pit her Group One-performed pair of Spring Tide (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Deerfield (NZ) (Falkirk) against multiple stakes winner Bellacontte (NZ) (Burgundy) in the Printlink Handicap (1200m).
“It’s through necessity with what else there is around and with the abandonments we have you just have to run where you can,” Bambry said.
“All three of them are fitter now and they’ve have had a few bumps this prep so hopefully we’re on the other side of that and they should all be good chances.”
Burgundy filly Bellacontte was in grand form during the spring to collet black type titles in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1200m), but has yet to recapture that form this preparation.
However, Bambry is confident the three-year-old can bounce back in the hands of Faye Lazet after tailing the field home on unsuitable going at Hastings last time out.
“She came in and pulled up super and Hazel (Schofer) said she felt good and didn’t want to sprint in the straight.
“I think it was very, very puggy the other day and she doesn’t like that. She has worked up super this week and that’s got a bit more fitness into her.
“I think we will see a different horse on Saturday on a loose track and we’ll claim on her.
“Faye has ridden her before and at the trials and she runs well for her. I think Bellacontte might be the best of them with that light weight.”
However, a bold showing from Spring Tide won’t surprise Bambry who said the Darci Brahma five-year-old had come on well following his unplaced first-up outing at Waverley.
“He was probably only 80 percent and I needed to get a run into him. He’s has taken a lot longer to get fit this prep.
“He spelled very, very well and came back quite big and it’s taken a bit longer to get the condition off him because of thew issues he has, I can’t work him that hard.”
Spring Tide has also had another trip away following a false start at the trials.
“He has been a bit quirky at the gates and refused to go in at the trials the other day and I don’t want that to become a habit,” Bambry said.
“We went up to the Waipukurau jump-outs and put the blindfold on with Sam O’Malley on him and he walked in perfectly.
“I just want to give him another good experience and his main target isn’t until September. He has got the class on his side and he can still win, even with that weight.”
Spring Tide produced a career best performance last season to finish runner-up in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and a return is planned this year and also a crack at the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) during the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival.
Falkirk gelding Deerfield, who placed in last year’s Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m), delved into his bag of tricks last time out when he tailed the field home at Hastings and a better effort is anticipated with Chris Dell in the saddle.
“He is a cunning old bigger. He jumped out well and then got a bit of a check and was reefing and pulling,” Bambry said.
“He gets cunning and looks after himself and didn’t try awfully hard there. He probably isn’t a claimer’s horse and can kid around a bit and Chris has been galloping him for us and I think he will do a good job on him.”
