In the lead-up to the Group 3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile, the excitement is building around the mare known as It’s Business Time.
Priced as the firm favourite at -117.65 for the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m) at Riccarton this Saturday, It’s Business Time has certainly made a name for herself, winning five out of her eight starts to date.
Racing under the colours of her breeder Windsor Park Stud, this daughter of Turn Me Loose has had an impressive start to her five-year-old season, triumphing in two 1200m sprints at Riccarton with significant margins of three lengths and four and a half lengths.
Sam Bergerson, who shares the training duties with Mark Walker, expressed his pleasant surprise with It’s Business Time’s performance.
“She’s sort of surprised us a little bit,” said Bergoson.
“She’s matured into an absolutely lovely horse in this campaign.
“She’s in great form, and we’re expecting her to present as a very good chance again at the races this weekend.”
With the upcoming 1400m race serving as the perfect stepping stone for the Coupland’s Mile, It’s Business Time is currently leading the market at +200 for the big event, facing competition from the likes of Diss Is Dramatic (+350), Desert Lightning (+700), and defending champion He’s A Doozy (+700).
Additionally, Walker and Bergerson have another contender in Trobriand, who is set to compete in the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m).
Trobriand, the winner of the Group 2 Eclipse Stakes as a two-year-old, has shown promise this season and is looking to establish himself as a contender for the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) on November 11.
“We’ve been really happy with the way this horse has settled in down here,” expressed Bergson.
“I think we’re going to know a lot more after this race. It looks like quite an even field.”
In addition to these runners, Walker and Bergerson have a strong contingent at Pukekohe, including the mare Petrucci, who has been showing promise, and the filly My Lips Are Sealed, stepping up into stakes class.
The Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) will test My Lips Are Sealed against a competitive field, and Bergerson commented, “She hasn’t drawn an ideal barrier (gate 14), so we’ll look to ride her back and she’s probably going to need a bit of luck. She’s another one that we’ll know a lot more about after this weekend.”
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