Skew Wiff’s quest to double her winning tally at the highest level hasn’t been helped at Hastings by an awkward gate.
The high-class daughter of Savabeel is likely to need luck to fall her way if she is to add Saturday’s Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) to her record that features victory in last season’s Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).
Skew Wiff was game when fourth in her defence of that title on the opening day of the carnival and has done well since, but barrier 12 has done her no favours.
“She has drawn out again, which is a hinderance and that and the mile is the only query,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the mare in partnership with Mark Walker.
“It’s a very tricky start there and we’re probably of the opinion that she is a better 1400m horse, but to be fair she was Group One-placed at a mile in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes as a three-year-old.
“We’ll have to map out a plan as to how we ride, fortunately enough we’ve got Opie (Bosson) on her. He knows her so well, it’s a massive plus having him aboard.
“It is a very winnable race for her, she’s absolutely flying at home and we just need some luck from the barrier.”
Te Akau also suffered a blow ahead of the Group 2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) with Snitzel colt Unbridled Joy ruled out.
“He banged his leg on Wednesday afternoon, it’s nothing major so he’ll go to Matamata next week for a three-year-old race as long as he continues to improve,” Bergerson said.
The stable’s Guineas chances will now rest on the shoulders of Captured By Love, who was second when resuming in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
“Her first-up run was pretty good, obviously she put on a bit of a performance before the start and we just put that down to the small saddle and she was very fresh,” Bergerson said.
“She has certainly gone the right way since and Opie galloped her on Wednesday and he was really pleased with her work.
“She has got a bit of a niggly gate and we’ll be positive, Warren has rode her as two-year-old so he knows her.
“Obviously, she is up against the boys but is probably a deserved favourite off her Gold Trail run and she looks fantastic.”
Bergerson is also looking forward to the return of multiple stakes winner and Group One performer Wild Night.
“Obviously, he’s a horse that has struggled soundness-wise in the past and fair play to the team at home who have done a fantastic job with him,” he said.
“He looks the best he has ever looked and is a happy and bright horse, fingers crossed he can rediscover the top three-year-old form he had.”
Resuming Taupo winner Trobriand is another in grand order.
“He was really good first-up and he’s drawn the outside again so he’ll need luck, but he has been in really good form at home,” Bergerson said.
Te Akau will also have a big team engaged at Te Rapa on Friday, and Bergerson tipped My Lips Are Sealed as a value each way chance.
“The Wexford mare (Lux Libertas) is going really but, but My Lips Are Sealed won nicely at Matamata and she’s trained on really well,” he said.
“There’s a bit of rain forecast on race morning, which would make it interesting and she’s one that gets through wet ground.
“She’s got a nice, soft draw and I quite like her as a smokie in what is a strong field.”
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