The Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) was not an easy watch for the connections of Captured By Love, and co-trainer Sam Bergerson is hoping some redemption can be served in Monday’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa.
The daughter of Written Tycoon was fractious in the barriers prior to the running of the transferred three-year-old feature at Matamata, giving her rivals a six-length head start before producing an enormous closing finish to come within a neck of Savaglee and So Naive.
Bergerson, who trains the filly in partnership with Mark Walker, was equally impressed and disappointed with the result.
“It was a fantastic run and we were very proud of her efforts, but also pretty gutted at the same time,” he said.
“She seems to have come through it well and the barrier blanket goes on, we’ve gone back through the raceday barriers at Matamata and her behaviour was very good.”
Captured By Love is one of three fillies that has accepted into Monday’s contest, opting to take the alternative route to Saturday’s Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.
“We thought keeping her left-handed would suit and Te Rapa is a bit closer to home as well,” Bergerson said.
“Ken’s (Kelso) filly (Alabama Lass) is another swaying factor, we think she’s pretty sharp, but there are definitely some handy types in the Sarten too. She performed very well against the boys in the Guineas, so we thought we’d have another crack.
“She’s drawn a nice middle alley which gives us a few options so fingers crossed her manners are a bit better, and if she can run up to her performance last time, she’d certainly be hard to beat.”
The Te Akau contingent face a similar dilemma when heading to New Zealand Cup Week in a fortnight, with Captured By Love holding nominations for both the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) a week later.
“We’ve had a very good team talk about Cup Week and we’re still on the fence, so we’ll get through Monday before making a plan,” Bergerson said.
“It is a real possibility that she may go to the 2000 Guineas.”
On Saturday, the stable will have 16 representatives at Ellerslie and Riccarton Park, with the latter including When Stars Align tackling the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m).
The Zoustar colt finished just under two lengths from race-rival Raziah in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago on a Good3 surface, something unlikely to be on offer with impending rain in the region.
“It was a good run, he set a good tempo then probably just hung a bit late and let himself down,” Bergerson said.
“The key to him is probably a good track, the forecast isn’t looking flash down there so that’s our worry.
“He has gone on with it since the Barneswood, Hunter (Durrant, stable foreman) certainly can’t fault him and his work was very good on Tuesday morning. We’re really pleased with him, it’s probably not the strongest edition of the race and we’re pleased to have Jonathan Riddell aboard, a good strong rider who will suit him.
“We think he should see out the distance, we were really hoping for a better track but hopefully he can run a good mile and then press on to the 2000 Guineas.”
Last-start Ashburton Cup (1600m) winner Fellini and Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) hopeful Fierce Flight will both take their place in the Listed Sothys Spring Classic (2000m).
“It looks a nice, even race for Fellini on paper,” Bergerson said.
“He’s in great form, full of confidence and bouncing around the stable. He’s another one that has trained on well since Ashburton, he certainly deserves his chance back at black-type level.
“He’s been up a long time so we’re mindful of that, but while he is in good form, we potentially could look for a race for him over Cup Week. We’ll get through Saturday and work from there.
“Fierce Flight is another horse that the forecast is a concern for, but he needs to run to get fit for the New Zealand Cup.
“He’s a bit of a funny horse, he doesn’t always put in and he was obviously disappointing last start, he didn’t try very hard.
“We’re hoping to get through here and then on to the Metropolitan (Listed, 2600m) and New Zealand Cup. He ran very well over 3200m in the Wellington and Auckland Cup’s so hopefully he can put his hand up. If the best version of Fierce Flight turns up on Saturday, he certainly be more than capable.”
While the rain may deter a couple at Riccarton, proven soft-track mare My Lips Are Sealed is likely to be Te Akau’s only runner in the Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Sunday.
The Ace High four-year-old finished second to Still Bangon in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) last December in similar conditions to what she may face in the feature.
“When she won the two races in a row this prep, we started looking at this race,” Bergerson said.
“She ran very well in the Eulogy last year on a wet track, which it looks like Sunday could turn out to be as well. She doesn’t get in that flash in the handicap with Ladies Man up the top, but she’s in fantastic form and working very well.
“It could be a nice race for her.”
With runners featuring at all four Labour weekend meetings, Bergerson is looking forward to stepping out a pair of juvenile debutants at Ellerslie in Return To Conquer and Belle Du Monde.
Te Akau principal David Ellis went to $1.3 million to secure Return To Conquer at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year, and the Snitzel colt had a slight upper hand on his stablemate at the Matamata trials on October 8.
“Both of the two-year-old’s look like very nice horses going forward, both of them trialled super at Matamata and we think they could be some of the better ones we step out this year,” Bergerson said.