Apprehension over jockey change
Tommy Beckett isn’t sure what he’s going to get from Miss Three Stars at Wingatui on Saturday.
The Ascot Park trainer is more than happy with the mare’s condition ahead of the White Robe Lodge Handicap but a forced change of jockey has him nervous.
Miss Three Stars’ regular partner Sam Wynne has opted for the Michael and Matt Pitman-trained Son Of Maher and Racha Cuneen has been booked as her replacement.
While Beckett does not doubt Cuneen’s talents in the saddle, it’s more than a matter of ability when it comes to getting the best out of Miss Three Stars.
‘‘It all depends on the mare – she only really runs for Sam and she’s won eight races on her so I’m not very happy about it,’’ he said.
Miss Three Stars hasn’t raced since she finished out of the money in the New Zealand Cup, a defeat Beckett has shouldered the blame for.
‘‘I sprinted her up before that and it got her too toey and she pulled and reefed in the race,’’ he said.
‘‘I was going to carry on with her but sometimes the paddock can level them out.
‘‘She’s coming up well now and doing everything right.
‘‘A bit of rain to take the jar out of the ground would help her as well.’’
Safely through Saturday, Beckett has eyes for a feature race hat-trick.
‘‘She’ll be going to the Riverton Cup again – it would be nice to win three of those in a row,’’ Beckett said. Rick Williams reckons there’s a better than even chance that Seachange’s yearling daughter will show the family ability on the racetrack.
The Oaks Stud manager was forced to withdraw the filly from the Premier Sale at Karaka due to a bout of colic .
However, he has let farm owner and breeder Dick Karreman know it could be a silver lining scenario.
‘‘She’s okay now and she’ll go home today [Wednesday] and I said to Dick that it’s destiny – she’ll probably turn out to be a champion!’’ Williams said.
The Darci Brahma filly would have been the third foal of Seachange, a seven-time Group One winner, to have gone through the Karaka ring.
The only one to race has been Divan, who sold for $180,000 in 2013 and he has subsequently won three times in Victoria from Robert Hickmott’s stable.
Top sprinter Chatauqua is set to resume in the Rubiton Stakes on Saturday week.
The John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes-trained sprinter made an appearance at this week’s Rosehill trials, where he finished third in his heat, ahead of his return.
‘‘He gave me the feel he’s back,’’ rider Dwayne Dunn said.
‘‘His attitude’s back to what it was, he looks fantastic.’’
Abidewithme will make her final race day appearance in the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa on February 11.
In foal to Tavistock, the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richardstrained mare bounced back to form with a solid last-start performance at Trentham to finish third in the Thorndon Mile.
The Redoute’s Choice mare has won nine races, including two at Group Two level and she is also a two-time Group One placegetter.
A Cambridge stable is making plans for a double two-year-old play for Group One honours.
Tony Pike has eyes for the Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie on March 11 with the highlyimpressive debut winner Aim Smart and the Karaka Million placegetter Felton Road.
‘‘Aim Smart looks very good at this stage – on what he did at Pukekohe he looks pretty special,’’ he said.
‘‘At this stage he’ll either go to New Plymouth for the Group Three race or for Matamata,’’ Pike said.
The Phoenix Park 2YO Classic will be run at New Plymouth on February 18 while the Listed Rein & Harrison Slipper will be run a week later.
Meanwhile, Felton Road was unbeaten in his first two appearances before he placed behind Melody Belle and Hasahalo in the Karaka Million.
‘‘He pulled up really well after that and we’re giving him a week off,’’ Pike said.
‘‘He’ll come back in the stable on Monday and we’ll either run him in the Matamata race or go straight for the Group One races at Ellerslie and at Awapuni.’’
Sydney will host Australia’s first $10 million horse race at Randwick in October, making it worth nearly two Melbourne Cups in terms of stakes. The race, to be known as The Everest, will target the best sprinters in the world and be run over 1200m on October 14.
Owners will be able to buy a spot in the 12-horse field for three years for $600,000.