Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have plenty to look forward to with their three-year-old team, despite narrowly missing Group One honours at Riccarton on Saturday.
Stable representative Excite finished fourth in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), while the partnership enjoyed a Tauranga treble with St Monica, Road To Paris and Cosmic Dream.
Road To Paris provided arguably the most satisfying performance of the Tauranga treble, resuming with a 1400m victory under a well-judged, rail-hugging ride from Sam McNab.
“I had low expectations, but I’ve seen class horses do class things. I think that’s what we saw, for a mile and a half horse to come back and win over 1400 like that,” James said.
The four-year-old will target the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham on December 5 before a possible Sydney campaign, including the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
“He’s physically much stronger. All in all, he’s a more completed article really,” James said.
“He ran a mile and a half out truly as a three-year-old, so you’d suggest he might get further. As I say, one step up at a time.”
James was equally pleased with Cosmic Dream, who broke through in a Rating 65 1200m contest after several luckless performances.
“When you look back at some of her runs, they’ve been enormous runs from wide draws, and just things not going right. She’s had five third placings,” he said.
“She’s always looked above average, but she’s been lightly raced and lacked a bit of luck at times. I think she’s got some nice times ahead.”
St Monica, a daughter of St Mark’s Basilica, impressed fresh-up over 1300m and shapes as an exciting autumn prospect. A two-year-old debut winner, she later finished sixth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), but has required careful management.
“She’s a filly we’ve held in high regard from day one, but she’s very frail and we’ve had to really be patient with her,” James said.
“She’s been in work probably for five months, but she hasn’t been feeding well and we really had to bide our time with her. Her best time as a three-year-old will be in the autumn, and going further.”
James expects St Monica to appreciate 2000m, although he is less certain she will reach 2400m this season.
The Guineas result also offered encouragement, with winner Kumara Straight having been beaten by the stable’s highly regarded filly Gigi’s Prayer at Ellerslie at her previous start.
“There’s always something positive that comes out of these defeats,” James said.
“Gigi’s Prayer is a very nice filly that we rate highly, and we have for a long time.
“She’s also by St Mark’s Basilica, the same as St Monica, and I’ve got a lot of time for the stallion.”
James and Wellwood also purchased a St Mark’s Basilica colt for $440,000 at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, and James believes all three could develop into Group performers.
Gigi’s Prayer is being aimed at the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on December 5, with the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day another option.
Another promising filly, Opening Bid, will step up to stakes company in Saturday’s Listed O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui after winning on debut at Taupo on November 5.
“She’s only a little filly but she’s a very good moving filly and she’s got enough ability too,” James said.
The stable also has several unraced three-year-olds in which James has confidence.
“Some of them are unraced yet but we have to let them prove themselves. There’s a couple in particular that we like, but we’ll let them put their hand up before we make it hard for them.”
Excite’s fourth in the 2000 Guineas was attributed partly to racing too keenly early.
“He jumped too well for his own good and just raced keenly enough for about the first 300m until he got cover, and that probably told in the end,” James said.
“We’ve had trouble with him not leaving the barriers, and he bounced and wanted to run hard, and it was probably his undoing.”
Stablemate She’s A Dealer, who galloped between races at Tauranga, is also being prepared for the Mufhasa Classic, while Hasstobeawinner is on target for the Gr.3 Bayleys Great Northern Challenge Stakes (1600m) on November 28. – NZ Racing Desk
