New Zealand Derby fourth placegetter Wigmore will step out for new trainer Phillip Stokes for the first time on Saturday when he contests the Gr.3 Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville.
The son of Sweynesse was previously prepared by Caley Myers in New Zealand, where the he was a winner and multiple placed in his six starts and showed his staying credentials when chasing Road To Paris in the Derby.
“He’s come to me through OTI and Terry Henderson,” Stokes said. “They did the deal to buy the horse, and they thought he'd be a good fit for the stable.
“He hasn’t raced since running fourth in the New Zealand Derby. He is a real staying type, he’s got a great set of lungs on him.
“We haven't even jumped him out yet, but we have just seen in his gallops that he has a good level of fitness, so we're using the Chairman's as a sort of trial, and if all goes well, we will go to the South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) the week after.”
Stokes said he was unsure what to expect from the gelding on Saturday where he will jump from barrier 7 under in-form hoop Lachlan Neindorf and is rated a $9 chance in a market headed by McWoody ($2.40).
“I'm not sure what to make of the form line of the New Zealand Derby, but I'm sure it's solid,” Stokes said.
“We've been happy with what he's done at home. Lachlan has galloped him quite a few times, and he likes the horse. We are still learning with him and I think the Derby will be the ideal distance for this horse.”
Stokes and OTI Racing will join forces with a number of former Kiwis on Saturday, with Embellish filly Kazaru rated a $31 chance in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m).
A half-sister to Daqiansweet Junior who won a Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) for the stable, Kazaru was a solid fourth in the Gr.3 Auraria Stakes (1800m) last start.
“We got her going quite early in Adelaide where she was stakes placed in a back-end two-year-old race last season. She has travelled around a bit and she went over to Tasmania and won the Oaks (Listed, 2100m) there.
“She has drawn a bit wide, which is ok as we will probably go back with her.”
Meanwhile at Flemington four-year-old Belardo gelding Skippers Canyon will contest an 1800m race, while Mark Twain lines up in a 2000m handicap.
“I'm just running Skippers Canyon through some BenchMark races and we aren't getting too carried away with him,” Stokes said.
“I still think he’s a nice horse, but he is a bit of a quirky bugger. He can miss the kick and do a few things wrong, but I am happy with the way he is building up to this race.
“Mark Twain was huge first-up when third in the Blamey (Gr2, 1400m). Second-up he was a bit average in the Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) and we might have stepped him up to Group One company a little bit quick.
“He is back to a BenchMark 100 this weekend, he is drawn wide but if he can do what he did first-up, he will be very competitive.” – NZ Racing Desk
