Michelle Bradley has found plenty of success of late on the road with Sulabella, and the capable mare will return to her home track at Ruakaka in search of a winning hattrick.
Now a six-year-old, Sulabella has been a reliable member of Bradley’s barn, posting five wins in 23 starts, with the most recent pair coming on heavy track conditions at Rotorua and Counties through July.
“It was a pretty hard run for her on a very testing track, but she’s come through it well otherwise I wouldn’t nominate her for Saturday,” Bradley said.
“I couldn’t be happier with her, it’s probably not going to be as easy as Pukekohe for her but the way she’s racing, she should go another nice race and hopefully will figure again.”
Sulabella will start a likely favourite, opening at $2.90 with horse racing bookmakers ahead of last-start winner Tide And Time ($3.80). The mare’s stablemate Shockatillatap has also accepted into the Rating 75 contest, with the benefit of a four-kilogram weight swing with Masa Hashizume on board.
“He’s been racing well, he’s out of his grade in this but he races well at his home track,” Bradley said.
“I was happy enough with his run at Te Rapa last week, he got stuck behind one coming down the straight so he didn’t get a completely clear run, but he’s come through it well.”
Sam Spratt, who recently ticked over a century of winners at the northern venue, will ride Sulabella and also partner stablemate Bosch.
Bosch often produces his best at Ruakaka and was unlucky not to be given a closer shot at collecting a second Stayer’s Winter Championship Final, finishing on strongly into second behind race-rival Fly My Wey.
“He was very unlucky, unfortunately he just got stuck behind the wrong horse at the wrong time but there’s not much we can do about that,” Bradley said.
“Moving forward, he’s trained on well and I’m really happy with him.
“He can be a little bit busy, but to ride and handle he’s an absolute pleasure. I love having him around and he’s a bit of a stable favourite.”
After racing above her grade recently alongside Bosch, No Plan Be will face an easier task.
“She’s back to a Rating 65 and she’s been racing against open class horses in her last three,” Bradley said.
“Going on her sectionals, she’s been right up there so I would like to think dropping back to her class she should be giving a good show.”
Bradley will have two representatives in the Aotea Electric In Waipapa (1200m), including five-year-old debutant Propaganda, who she is preparing for Gerry Harvey’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Holdings.
“She’s had two trials prior to this, she’s a very busy mare and we are still learning a bit about her while she’s learning about being a racehorse, she’s pretty green,” Bradley said.
“She’ll probably need this run, but I’d like to think she’ll take good experience from it going forward. She’ll appreciate the step-up to 1400m in the next run or two.
“I’ve been pre-training for Gerry in the last year or two, I raced a Redwood gelding called Rustic who unfortunately didn’t win a race but went close, so it’s really nice to get another one to train.
“I’m hoping in due course I can reward him with a winner somewhere down the line.”
Her other runner in the maiden event is Arabella, while Croaghaun will complete her team.
“Her (Arabella’s) two fourths have been on heavy tracks, and although she’s a Belardo, the track at Pukekohe was pretty tough work by the time her race came around,” she said.
“She’s bounced out though and I wouldn’t have nominated if she hadn’t been right, so I think she should be finishing on nicely.
“Looking at his (Croaghaun) action in the heavy track last time I don’t think he’s a real wet tracker. His dam won a couple over distance on top of the ground, so I’ve just been holding off for this maiden mile.
“I’m interested to see how he goes, it’s only his second start and he’s still learning so I think he’s got a bit of time up his sleeve before showing his work at home on raceday.
“Whatever he does on Saturday, he’ll improve on as well and gets more experience.”
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