The booking of a champion rider combined with the inside gate and a smooth preparation has Shaune Ritchie confident that Tuxedo will be in the frame in Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.
The Cambridge trainer, who operates in partnership with Colm Murray, will have the services of Opie Bosson and is expecting a bold showing from the combination at the weekend.
“Tuxedo’s fantastic, Opie rode him at the trials and then at the gallops at Ellerslie and he’s impressed. If he’s happy then I’m happy,” Ritchie said.
“He’s certainly a lot stronger animal than last year and he’s progressed well.
“He’s got a good record fresh and he’s drawn the barrier to get a very economical trip. Hopefully he can use the gate, but I will leave that entirely in Opie’s hands.”
While more than pleased with Tuxedo’s build-up, there’s a healthy respect for the top two in the market over a distance short of the Tivaci gelding’s best.
“The fact of the matter is that he doesn’t have the same turn of foot over 1400m as Well Written or Alabama Lass, but what he will get is a soft run behind them,” Ritchie said.
“You’d like to think that he will be hitting the line off an economical trip better than most of the others.”
Ritchie’s ultimate goal with Tuxedo is a crack at the A$2 million Gr.3 Five Diamonds (1800m), but his pathway isn’t locked and loaded with a start in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) yet to be confirmed.
“We will closely monitor the situation at Hastings, personally I’m a long way from convinced that it’s the track we want to be running on second-up,” Ritchie said.
“If I’m wrong and they come up with a great track then wonderful, we’ll certainly go there but second-up on a heavy track would be unacceptable and then he’d almost certainly go straight to Australia.”
The Five Diamonds at Rosehill on November 7 is seen as the perfect target for Tuxedo.
“It’s a good race for him, it’s for five-year-olds only and you avoid the international horses who go to Melbourne and top horses like Autumn Glow, it’s a great option for a horse like Tuxedo,” Ritchie said.
“If the track is good then he’ll run in the Howden Mile, and we’ll make a decision from there based on his New Zealand weight-for-age form as to whether we go and run in the Prelude and then the Five Diamonds.
“There’s also the option of the Livamol (Gr.1, 2040m) and then go over for the Five Diamonds fresh.”
Ritchie also believes Saturday’s Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m) presents a good chance for Summer Schemer to collect black type.
“She’s primed to run a cheeky race, she was a little vulnerable fitness-wise first-up and the firmer the going the better for her,” he said.
“She looks to be the speed influence and if she can get a soft sectional somewhere then I think she’s a great place chance.”
The stable also has Tajana in the Myracehorse Handicap (1300m) and Gate Crashers in the Horizon By Skycity Handicap (1600m).
“Tajana is a high quality three-year-old filly from last season and up until this week she’s been working well with Tuxedo,” Ritchie said.
“Certainly, on her trackwork and work load she’s ready to go well fresh and won first-up at Counties earlier in the year.
“Gate Crashers doesn’t get competitive until he gets over further, but he has certainly come back in superb order and one to follow over more ground.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
