Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping a return to the right-handed way of going will help Qali Al Farrasha bounce back to winning form at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
The homebred mare was eye-catching when winning the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in that direction at Pukekohe fresh-up last month, but failed to flatter when a beaten favourite in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa earlier this month.
Bergerson admitted to being perplexed by her subpar showing but has been pleased with her subsequent work and is hopeful of a bold showing against a strong line-up in Friday’s Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m).
“She was a bit of a headscratcher last time, beaten a short-priced favourite,” Bergerson said. “We think she may be a bit better suited to right-handed, that is the only thing we could put it down to. Opie (Bosson, jockey) gave her a lovely run and she was just a bit flat there up the straight.
“We freshened her post the first two legs of the triple crown and maybe Pukekohe, with the turnaround, took the edge off her a little bit heading into Te Rapa.
“Her work has been really good since and she gets back to Ellerslie where she normally runs really well. We think up to 2000m suits with a reasonably nice barrier (4), and we are hoping she can bounce back to a bit of form in what has come up as a pretty strong field.”
Stablemate He Who Dares also faces a stiff task against a small but select field in the Gr.2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas (1400m), where he will be met by unbeaten Group One-winning filly Well Written and Group One performer Affirmative Action.
“It is light on numbers, but with Affirmative Action and Well Written there it is certainly not easy,” Bergerson said.
The son of Snitzel was fifth last start in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last month and following a freshen-up he finished fourth behind Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti in a 1100m trial at Matamata last Friday.
“He trialled really well at Matamata, he has really bounced back from his trip to Riccarton, he has come back from a freshen-up in really good order,” Bergerson said.
“I thought his trial was really good, he has come through it really well. It is a little bit of a sticky gate (7), which I think we will roll forward from.”
Impressive last start maiden winner Stella Ma Bella will step-up to stakes company on Friday in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m), where she will carry the colours of owner-breeder Simms Davison of Mapperley Stud.
“She is thrown in the deep end a little bit and has got to take that step up now, but she has gone the right way since (her last start win),” Bergerson said.
“Richie’s (trainer Graham Richardson) filly (Lollapalooza) on paper looks the one to beat, but there are a couple of handy ones in there, so we will certainly know where we are at post-Friday.
“We think she is up to it and I am looking forward to a really good opportunity at black-type for Simms and the team, and hopefully she can run really well.”
On the undercard, juvenile gelding Out Of The Blue will put his unbeaten record on the line when he makes his North Island debut in the SkyCity 1100.
The son of Tivaci won both of his starts out of Te Akau’s Riccarton barn, and readied for Friday’s assignment with an 800m trial at Avondale last week.
“We gave him a trial last week just to tick him over, he was quite fierce in behind them,” Bergerson said.
“The barrier (10) makes it really hard. He should roll forward from there and he should give a good sight for a long way.
“He has got to step up to the North Island grade now. There are some really interesting runners in that race, it is hard to line it all up, but he is in really good form here at home and I am looking forward to Friday with him.”
Meanwhile, Group Two performer Dream Of The Moon will resume in the Barfoot & Thompson 1200.
She had a pleasing three-year-old season last term, winning two and runner-up in two of her six starts, including victory in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) and placings in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) and Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).
She has had a slow build-up this season, having four trials prior to her season debut, and Bergerson his hopeful of a bold showing first-up.
“I am excited to see her back at the races,” he said. “1200m might be a bit sharp in that field, but she has drawn barrier one and she is mapped to get a good run.
“She had a quiet, tick over trial here (Matamata) on Friday and she was good through the line.
“She is a very talented mare on her day and she should run a really cheeky race.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
