High-quality galloper Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock) and up and coming middle distance performer Soprano Supreme (NZ) (Contributer) have been locked in by Te Akau for the Queensland winter carnival.
Stakes-winning sprinter Sword Of State (Snitzel) is also on the Brisbane short list, but will trial again before a decision is made on him making the trip.
Both Entriviere and Sword Of State furthered their preparations in an open 1050m trial at Rotorua on Saturday, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
“Entriviere will be definitely going to Queensland. I’m very happy with her and she will start off in the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m), all going well, and work things out after that,” trainer Mark Walker said.
The Tavistock mare, who will have another trial later this month at Taupo, won the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) earlier this year before finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and was runner-up in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
Entriviere will be making her second trip across the Tasman after a three-start Sydney campaign in the spring, which netted her success in the Gr.2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) and minor placings in the Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) and The Invitation (1400m).
Last season’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) winner Sword Of State failed to find his best form in Sydney in the spring, but the Snitzel colt has bounced back with victories this year in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) and the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m).
“We are going to trial Sword Of State at Taupo and make a decision on Queensland after that. I thought his trial was only fair at Rotorua, but it was a slow track and we want to get a proper line on him at Taupo on April 26,” Walker said.
Contributer’s daughter Soprano Supreme has been in fine touch this preparation with three wins from her last four starts, including a runaway success over 2200m at Rotorua on Saturday.
“She is a nice, progressive mare and we might take advantage of her being down in the weights,” Walker said. “We will look at some handicap staying races over 2400m for her.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Imperatriz hasn’t missed a beat since the daughter of I Am Invincible took top honours in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).
“She had a gallop at Pukekohe on Saturday and will go to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Te Rapa,” Walker said. “She will probably go to the paddock after that.”
The stable will also be attacking the three-year-old event over 1200m at Te Rapa with quality and quantity.
The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) runner-up Shepherd’s Delight (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), stakes winner Quattro Quinta (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Cote De Beaune (NZ) (Burgundy), who has won two of his three starts, will go head-to-head although the weather may have the final say on their participation.
“We’ll just wait and see how much rain we get, quite a bit is forecast,” Walker said.
Last start Listed New Zealand St Leger (2600m) winner Leaderboard (Street Cry), who also galloped at Pukekohe, will head south again for Saturday’s Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).
“He is a genuine 2400m plus horse and he handles wet ground. Looking at the forecast for Hastings and the amount of rain they may get, it will be a pretty strong staying test,” Walker said.
In line with previous years, Te Akau’s race day involvement will drop to a minimum over the winter months. “We won’t be having many runners.”