Go Racing have strong hand at Trentham
Go Racing will be represented by three black-type runners on premier day at Trentham on Saturday.
Dominant two-year-old Velocious, winner of the Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) and Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), spearheads the trio as she looks for back-to-back Group One victories in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
“We’ll what can we say about her?” Go Racing’s Matt Allnutt said. “She’s just been absolutely sensational right throughout this campaign.”
The Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Written Tycoon has continued to impress in the lead up to Saturday.
“She had an exhibition gallop in company at Ellerslie on Saturday and Stephen said her work was beautiful, she pulled up well and he really couldn’t be happier with her heading into Saturday.
Velocious, who has drawn barrier one and will be ridden by Sam Spratt, is understandably the short-priced favourite for the race at $2.70.
Having beaten the boys in the Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy last start, Diss Is Dramatic is set to take on her own sex in the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) on Saturday.
The Lisa Latta-trained four-year-old will be partnered by Matthew Cameron from barrier two and she is currently the $3.60 second favourite behind Apostrophe ($3.50).
“She was very good when winning the Japan Trophy at Tauranga last start,” Allnutt said. “She’s had six wins from 21 starts and four of those have been in black-type races. She’s picked up black-type as a two, three and now four year old.
“She’s come through her last race well, she’s beautifully drawn on Saturday and she’s capable of repeating the dose.”
The successful Marsh, Spratt and Go Racing combination will again be a formidable force with Skyman in the Gr.2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m).
Purchased by Go Racing in England, Skyman was successful at Listed level and Group placed for Chris Waller in Australia before joining Marsh’s stable late last year.
“He’s won over a million dollars for us so he must be respected in this field,” Allnutt said.
“He was good in the Japan Trophy behind Diss Is Dramatic but he just got tripped up by the heavy track. He went a bold enough race and gave a good account of himself and that run suggests that going up to 2100m on Saturday with just 56kgs makes him very well placed in this race.”
While some rain is forecast for Thursday, Allnutt is hoping a fine day on Friday and Saturday should provide a suitable surface for the eight-year-old.
“We just don’t want any rain for him,” he said. “Ideally the firmer the track the better. Eight of his nine wins have come on good surfaces.
“Velocious is another that we wouldn’t want to see the track deteriorate too much for.”
Regardless of the weather Allnutt is looking forward to a great day’s racing.
“We’re really proud to have three horse racing in Group races at Trentham that I imagine will all be well in the market” he said. “It’s really pleasing to see and it’s going to be an exciting day ahead for the Go Racing team and all of our owners.”
Photo: Velocious winning the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes, Race Images