Grail Seeker’s (NZ) (Iffraaj) season has painted a pretty picture so far for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, with her two starts in two Group Ones resulting in two wins.
The imposing daughter of Iffraaj lined up a $32 chance in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) back in September, but she didn’t know that, schooling a hot field and doing the same as favourite four months later in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m).
On Saturday, Grail Seeker will likely hold the same favouritism in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, coming off a breathtaking performance that took even her trainers a little bit by surprise.
“We hoped she would go and perform like that (in the Telegraph), and her performance was even stronger than we would’ve thought,” Scott said. “She was really strong.
“There were a lot of things that went her way that day, a good bit of give in the ground and a roomy straight helped her a lot. She probably exceeded our expectations that day with the way she won.”
Following their successful method throughout the season, O’Sullivan and Scott opted to bypass the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) and present a fresh Grail Seeker in Saturday’s $500,000 feature.
“She had an exhibition gallop there last Friday around Ellerslie, but since the Telegraph, we’ve backed off her,” Scott said. “She’s maintained her racing weight all the way through, so we haven’t had to do a lot with her in between.
“She is quite a laidback mare, but from time to time, she can be pretty big and powerful and explosive. You’ve always got to be on your guard with her, but most of the time, she’s quite a gentle giant.
“We’ll ride her where she’s comfortable on Saturday, we won’t be pushing her out of her comfort zone and where she finds her rhythm. Hopefully she can quicken off that, we won’t be reinventing the wheel.”
The mare will be joined at Te Rapa by stablemate Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), last year’s Railway winner who recorded the fastest closing sectionals in the race a fortnight ago.
“We were really pleased, he ran the fastest last 600 of the race, but they probably just didn’t quite go quick enough for him to get over the top of them,” Scott said.
“He’s going very well, he’s raced well at Te Rapa before and the step-up in distance should help him, with a good gate. He’s a consistent, top-class racehorse that always goes out there and performs well. If the race is run to suit, he’ll be in it.”
A filly stepping into new territory on Saturday will be Prosegur (NZ) (Proisir), having her first attempt over ground in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). The daughter of Proisir was Group Two-placed over 1400m this term and put in a solid performance from back in the field in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
“Craig Williams (jockey) got off and said he believed she raced really well that night, but was looking for more ground, which has led us this way in going 2000m,” Scott said.
“She’s had a good fortnight, and if anything, she’d had a fair gap between runs leading into the Karaka Millions Mile. She’s a fit filly having her fit attempt over ground, she’s genetically bred to get this trip so we’re hoping she’ll stay well.”
A fast-improving Ever Charm (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) will get an opportunity to pick up a lucrative stake in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m). A maidener at the start of the season, Ever Charm has been unbeaten in two starts this term and is among the highest-rated in the field.
“This race fitted in nicely for him, we gave him a good while to get over his fresh-up win and he backed it up with a good 65,” Scott said. “It’s good timing and he’s raced well at Te Rapa.
“He’s a horse that has benefitted from a good bit of patience, his progression from three to four, like so many, has produced a much stronger horse. He’s from a family that does take time, he’s really come on.”
The same can be said for Phoebe Buffay (NZ) (Sweynesse), a four-year-old mare who collected a deserved maiden success last Monday at Tauranga. Shooting for back-to-back wins, she will take her place in the TAB 1200.
“That was a really good, confidence building win that she had been building to for a long while,” Scott said. “It was great to see her get what she deserved, because she had been running very good races.
“She’s another four-year-old that has appreciated the time, she’ll quicken well again. We probably look at her as one of our best winning chances of the day.”
Smokeshow (NZ) (Contributer) and Miss Bo Peep (NZ) (Astern) are both engaged in the Dr John Southworth Memorial Vase (1200m), with the former looking to bounce back to his usual flying form.
“On his day, he’s got a bucket of ability,” Scott said. “He just gallops better left-handed and he got a bit confused last start, he probably got out to a distance far enough for him as well.
“We’ve freshened him, back to six furlongs with the hot speed on, he should quicken well.
“We just gave Miss Bo Peep a wee break over Christmas after she won a couple in a row quickly, she went home to Wentwood Grange and had a lovely spell. She’s a mare that will get up to open company and on the fresh side, we think she’ll sprint well.”
Prior to Legends Day, the Wexford team will have a number of runners at Tauranga on Friday, including the talented Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test) coming off of a fifth placing in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m).
“He’s another that we’ve freshened since New Year’s Day, we’re looking to kick off his late summer campaign and build towards the autumn miles, an Easter (Gr.3, 1600m),” Scott said.
“He might be in need of Friday’s run over 1200m, but once he gets over to the 14 and a mile, he’s going to be much more competitive. It seems to be his time of the year post-New Year, so he’ll have a good autumn again.”
The son of Time Test will be ridden by Warren Kennedy in the EMAC Electrical 1200, while Ngakau Hailey will provide two kilograms of weight relief to the in-form Tanganyika (NZ) (Ace High) in the Super Liquor Greerton 1400.
“He’s racing really well this season, he lacked a wee bit of luck last start when he got off balance, but back around Tauranga again, he doesn’t have to improve much to be winning,” Scott said.
“He looks particularly well at the present time, so we’re expecting him to race really well.”
