Fortuna Racing will be seeking success on both sides of the Tasman this weekend, including with Lara Antipova, who will have her final start before next month’s Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Trainer Mark Walker had intended to line her up in next week’s Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m), but the daughter of Russian Revolution has been bouncing out of her skin since her Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) triumph at Flemington a fortnight ago, and the decision has been made to step her out a week earlier in Sunday’s Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield.
“Originally, we were going to go to the Edward Manifold next week but she just came through her last run so well that we thought she didn’t need a three-week break, let’s give her a two-week break and then she can have a three-week break into the Guineas,” Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin said.
Galvin was pleased to see her bounce back to winning form last start after running ninth in the Gr.3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) first-up.
“It was a bit of a relief, but it wasn’t overly surprising,” Galvin said from Hawaii, where he has been holidaying. “I know she wasn’t that flash first time, but she had excuses and we were pretty confident going into that race at Flemington that we would see a better outcome, and she certainly delivered for us that’s for sure. She was giving weight to those colts and geldings and managed to beat them all. It was a good result.
“It was quite emotional in the room afterwards, there was a huge number of (Moroney) family members there. I said to Paul (Moroney, Michael’s brother) before the race ‘mate, this is a race I really want to win today, for more than one reason’, and so it came to be.”
Lara Antipova will carry 55kg on Sunday, two kilograms less than her rivals, and she will be ridden by Zac Lloyd from barrier four.
“I got down on my knees on Monday night and prayed to the racing gods for a good draw,” Galvin said. “With the rail out 13m, the draws are going to be like gold. We have come up with four.
“Because it is a set weights race, she is carrying 55kg, so compared to the weights scale last time, she is significantly better off. She beat many of the competitors that she is racing against on Saturday last time.”
Lara Antipova will be tested over a mile for the first time this weekend, and Galvin is looking forward to getting a gauge on his filly over the distance ahead of the Thousand Guineas.
“The only query is the mile,” said Galvin, who will be trackside on Sunday. “We are pretty confident that she will run the mile, but you never know until they do it, and this is the first time. The Thousand Guineas is the target.”
Back in New Zealand on Saturday, Fortuna’s promising colt Zafar will be seeking to bounce back in The Pavilion At Riccarton Park Three-Year-Old (1200m) at Riccarton.
The three-year-old son of Snitzel won on debut in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) at the Christchurch track as a two-year-old. He was sent out an even money favourite when resuming at Riccarton last month, but Galvin said 1000m was too short for him and he suffered his first career defeat when running fourth.
Galvin has received positive reports since that run and expects him to improve this weekend.
“We are pretty excited about him,” he said. “I see he is a pretty warm favourite, but he is a talent. The 1000m was a bit short and he had only had one trial, but he has just come through that race so well, he has just blossomed and strengthened, so we are expecting a bold run from him on Saturday.”
Galvin is also expecting to see plenty of improvement from Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) aspirant Court Of Appeal when she tackles the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m) third-up.
“Her first-up run was obviously a lead-up run and then she got out of her ground last time and she just doesn’t have that turn of foot to be able to finish strongly over a mile from that far back in the field,” he said. “This time, up to 2000m, I think we are going to see a potentially good outcome there as well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
