Shaune Ritchie couldn’t be happier with race favourite Tuxedo ahead of the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday.
The Group One performer was fifth when first up in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie three weeks ago and he has thrived since, enough for Ritchie to take him to Ellerslie last weekend for an exhibition gallop.
“He is going fantastic,” said Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray. “We took him to Ellerslie for an exhibition gallop on Saturday, and you only do that with your horses when they are eating well enough, happy enough and having a play around the paddock enough to get rid of that bit of excess energy they are showing around the place.
“To have the luxury of being able to do that was ideal. He had a cruisy gallop up there with Opie (Bosson, jockey) on board and I would say both Tuxedo and his jockey will be much improved from the Proisir.”
Ritchie was pleased with Tuxedo’s performance in the Proisir Plate and said he has taken plenty of improvement from that run.
“He ran fifth in the Proisir Plate and I think he is looking for the mile now and perhaps even further down the track,” he said. “At this point, the mile is really going to suit. I felt that Well Written (winner) looked superb, she had her summer coat through, and she clearly looked the best in the bird cage, and she performed as such. Our horse still had half of his winter coat there and he was still coming through, and I think you will find a much fitter and better looking and shinier coat, and a more complete Tuxedo on Saturday when he walks around the birdcage.”
Tuxedo currently heads the TAB’s market for the Howden Insurance Mile at $3.90, with last year’s winner Waitak the second elect at $5.50, and She’s A Dealer and First Five at $6.
A day prior at Te Rapa, Ritchie is hoping race caller George Simon is calling his filly, The Sweetest Song, to victory in the Henley Park 1200.
Bred and raced by Simon and his wife, Maryanne, The Sweetest Song is by Ribchester and out of Sweet Inspiration, a half-sister to triple Group One winner and now sire Turn Me Loose.
She made the perfect start to her career when winning on debut at Cambridge a fortnight ago, and Ritchie is looking forward to testing her talent against a strong line-up on Friday, which includes Group Three performer Shalabiya and stakes performers Belle Rebelle and Phillyjean.
“She is up against it, but she has got the draw (2) to show us what she has got, she is the unknown in the race,” he said. “You don’t often come off a poly win and beat some of the better three-year-old fillies. But it is tough for the three-year-old fillies because you go to a (rating) 65 (race) or you have got to take them on at some point.
“We have got the barrier to see whether she has got the goods or not and we will address racing after that performance. I thought 10-1 was about the right price for her.”
Ritchie will head to Te Rapa with three other runners, including exciting colt Top Marks, who will contest the Lodge Real Estate 1400.
“He is a St Mark's Basilica out of Savaria, who won an Oaks for Roydon Bergerson,” Ritchie said. “He is a magnificent animal, he is almost the perfect specimen because he is strong without being heavy. I am not suggesting that he will win tomorrow, he has still got to get the barrier right, he can be a little sluggish out of the gates, but he will attack the line. I think he is a good horse in the making when they get up over a little further.”
Meanwhile, Group One performer Tajana will head to Hawera next week for the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) following her first-up placing over 1300m at Ellerslie at the start of the month, while promising filly Summer Schemer has gone to the spelling paddock following her unplaced run in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1200m).
“Tajana is going fantastic, she is working great,” Ritchie said. “She is going to Hawera for the Breeders’ Stakes next week and that will be a nice race for her. Sam McNab, who rode her at Ellerslie, will take the booking. I felt she just hit the wall a little bit in the last 100m and probably cost her the win last time, so that will clean her right up and the month between races she should be spot on for Hawera.
“Summer Schemer has gone to the paddock. She disappointed last time so she has gone out for a month to just reset. She is another one who had a strong winter coat. She may be a better autumn filly than a spring filly, but having said that, we will try her over summer.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
