Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray will have promising youngsters in action at two venues in the coming days by King of Comedy (IRE) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) with immediate expectations higher for their representative at Otaki.
The Cambridge training duo will send debut winner Dubawi Diva south for Friday’s Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown Stakes (1200m) and the following day Top Marks makes his first appearance in the ITM/GIB 2YO (1200m) at Ruakaka.
The former has progressed well since her smart first-up showing while the stable also holds the well-related Top Marks in high regard, although he is expected to show his true colours when stepped up in distance.
Dubawi Diva finished runner-up in both of her trials before making a dream start to her career at Matamata last month.
“She slipped at the start and picked herself up, she’s normally got gate speed and there’s no doubt barrier one, a claim with a quite clever ride from Jack Taplin who held her together round the corner probably won her race,” Ritchie said.
“That was nice and without doubt she has come on quite a lot since then and her gallop on Tuesday morning was probably the best piece of work she has given us.”
The only concern for the stable is Dubawi Diva’s ability to master heavily rain-affected ground.
“It was a Slow7 at Matamata and I’ve always felt she’s got the type of action to get through it and she’s also got a turn of foot, so there’s a bit of a question mark on what will probably be a wet, holding track,” Ritchie said.
“We need that feedback, if we present well on Saturday in the Castletown and she goes a super race then we’ll head for the Ryder Stakes (Listed, 1200m), if not we’ll head for the Northland Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m).”
Ritchie has formed a top opinion of Ruakaka candidate Top Marks, but Saturday may not bring out the best in the colt.
“In his two trials he has been green and a bit sub-standard, but his work, demeanour and his physical attributes are pretty stunning,” he said.
“In his first trial, he attacked the line and was just fair in his second, but in saying that we had to run him on heavy tracks and we’re looking to getting him on better ground.
“We think he’s a very, very good horse but he will be extremely vulnerable in a race like this.”
By St Mark’s Basilica, Top Marks is out of the Classic-winning Savabeel mare Savaria.
“He’s out of a New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) winner and it’s probably half the distance he’s going to end up needing,” Ritchie said.
“He does have a great attitude as a colt and he’s strong without being heavy and obviously he needs to learn.
“We want a good deck to do that on and we’re going to get that on Saturday at Ruakaka and an overnight trip away won’t hurt him.
“It’s the place to go and one of the last opportunities to run a two-year-old, he will get back after drawing out a bit and that will make it very tough. I’m guessing he may be giving away too bigger a start.”
Ritchie said they were unsure of Top Mark’s immediate future post-Saturday.
“Whether we give him a break after this or what we do I’m not 100 percent sure, but he’s certainly a horse we’re very excited once he gets to a mile and further come springtime,” Ritchie said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
