Kiwi Group One winner Lara Antipova will test her talent at elite level in Australia for the first time when she heads to Caulfield on Saturday to tackle the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
The Fortuna Racing filly has had three starts from Te Akau’s Cranbourne base this spring, highlighted by an impressive win in the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) at Flemington last month, which was bookended by unplaced runs at Caulfield.
She raced keenly when finishing fourth off a sedate pace in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) three weeks ago, and trainer Mark Walker is hoping for a more genuinely run contest this weekend.
“That last race was slowly run and she just got pulling a bit,” he said. “In hindsight, she might have been better rolling forward. They only ran 1:37.5 for the mile, so I just hope it is truly run on Saturday.”
Lara Antipova will have her fourth jockey in as many starts this weekend with the booking of leading Australian hoop Craig Williams, and Walker is hoping he can help turn the filly’s luck around at the Melbourne track.
“Craig has had a lot of luck for us over the years, so we are really happy with that booking,”” Walker said. “She always jumps so cleanly, I think it (barrier nine) gives us options.”
Stablemate and fellow Group One winner Geegees Mistruth will drop back in grade to the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) on Saturday, having finished fifth in Group One company in her first two starts this preparation.
“She had two really good fifths in the Group Ones and we just thought we would try to get her back in winning form,” Walker said. “She has got top weight (61kg), but it is a drop in class.”
Group Two performer I Am Aria will step up to 1400m for the first time in the Listed Gothic Stakes following her runner-up effort in the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) three weeks ago.
“We thought now is the time to try her at 1400m,” Walker said. “She is well-weighted in that considering her rating, and if she can run out the 1400m, she should be a nice chance. There is just a slight query on that distance because she is pretty brilliant.”
Back in New Zealand, promising filly Asturia will be on trial for a tilt at next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton when she contests the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The daughter of Almanzor beat a handy line-up on debut at the Auckland track last month and put in a bold effort against the boys when runner-up to Old Fashioned in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings three weeks ago.
“She is a very promising filly and pretty much untapped,” said Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson in New Zealand. “She has had that maiden win around Ellerslie, so I am looking forward to seeing what she does.
“She just had to wait a little bit to get the gap in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, but fair play to the winner, they were just too good on the day.
“She has trained on nicely and I expect her to run well.”
Walker said they will wait to see how she comes through Saturday’s assignment before making any plans to head south.
“We will just get through Saturday first and see how she is,” he said. “She is quite a big, lanky filly, so we have just got to see what condition she has on her still after Saturday.”
Meanwhile, stablemate and current Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) favourite System Of Play pleased in his exhibition gallop over 1000m alongside Day One at Tauranga on Wednesday.
Unbeaten in his two starts to date, including over 1400m at Ellerslie last month, System Of Play heads the 2000 Guineas market at $4, and jockey Michael McNab couldn’t have been happier with his work on Wednesday.
“He’s got a great brain, but so casual, I had to click him up to work alongside,” he said. “I’m rapt with him. I think he’s come on since his first-up win, which feels like it’s really switched him on to his job. It was a good, sharp, piece of work.”
System Of Play will now progress to the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Labour Day before heading to Christchurch for the Guineas. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
