Group 3 performer Unbridled Joy will be out to capture his maiden stakes victory when he heads south to Wanganui on Saturday to contest the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m).
The Snitzel colt won one and placed in two of his four starts as a juvenile last season, including a third placed run in the Group 3 Matamata Slipper (1200m) before finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at his last raceday outing.
He has had two trials leading into his spring preparation, both unplaced behind last year’s outstanding three-year-old Crocetti and hype filly Alabama Lass.
While not overly enamoured with his trials, trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson believe their charge will lap up the rain-affected track, which was rated a Heavy10 on Wednesday morning, and is capable of featuring in the finish.
“He had a relatively good two-year-old season. His run in the Manawatu Sires’ wasn’t that bad,” Bergerson said.
“His trials have just been okay this time around, but we know he handles wet ground and he worked well on Tuesday morning on a pretty testing track.
“It has come up a reasonably strong field. There are a few lightly-raced ones but they look very talented.
“He certainly deserves his chance, but if he doesn’t shape up he will probably end up a gelding following Saturday.”
Te Akau Racing’s Riccarton barn was a key pillar to their premiership-winning success last season, and they are hoping to continue on a similar path when they head to Riccarton Park on Saturday with nine runners.
“It has come up a Heavy10, but they have got a relatively fine forecast leading up to the races. We are hoping that that track can bounce back,” Bergerson said.
“The Riccarton barn has been massive for us. They tend to get the better tracks earlier in the year, so it is a really good place to get horses down there and settled. They come to hand a bit quicker.”
Bergerson is particularly looking forward to seeing The Victress and About Last Night contest the Vale Kevin Hickman Three-Year-Old (1000m).
“We have got quite a few nice chances there on Saturday,” he said.
“It will be good to see the three-year-olds step out – The Victress and About Last Night. We think the 1000m should really suit them. They have had a couple of trials and are ready to go. I think they will be two nice chances.”
Stablemate Fierce Flight will commence his spring preparation in the Open Mile (1600m), with Walker and Bergerson eyeing the Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November with the six-year-old gelding.
“I am looking forward to Fierce Flight getting back to the races,” Bergerson said.
“The mile is short of his best, but he has had three trials and he is really full of himself. We are just mindful that he does take a while to find form in the spring. Usually, he is quite disappointing towards the back-end of winter, early spring. We are not really sure why but once we get him up over a trip hopefully we can map him to the New Zealand Cup.”
Another stablemate set to head to New Zealand Cup week is El Viento, who will contest the NZ Cup Week Tickets On Sale 1 September Rating 75 (1200m).
“I think El Viento is a more than capable galloper,” Bergerson said.
“He can hopefully go through the grades down there and hopefully see him end up in something like a Coupland’s Mile (Group 3, 1600m) with a nice, low handicap.”
Meanwhile, Group 1 winner Quintessa has made her way across the Tasman where she will line-up in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The winner of last season’s Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m), Quintessa has already tested herself in Australia, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), and runner-up in the Group 2 Alister Clarke Stakes (2040m).
“She did a wonderful job for us last year,” Bergerson said.
“Her trial was okay, but she is a bit like that, she only does what she has to until she gets the blinkers on and gets to raceday.
“Ben (Gleeson, Cranbourne assistant trainer) and the team are happy with the way that she has travelled over.
“It is interesting for four-year-old mares that come out of a big three-year-old season, you are always a bit mindful of whether they can back it up coming out of their age group. We think she is above average and deserves her chance.”
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