Stakes next target for Te Rapa winner

Speedy two-year-old Sai Fah booked himself a tilt at this weekend’s Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) with an effortless victory over 1100m at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The Rios gelding, sporting blinkers for the first time, settled just off the speed in the six-horse field before issuing his challenge for rider Michael Coleman shortly after commencing the run home.

Despite a tendency to lug in over the closing stages, Sai Fah dashed well clear of the opposition as he won untouched by a conservative five-length margin.

Trainer Stephen Marsh was pleased with the effort as he looks to back his charge up in the final black-type race for the season at Otaki on Saturday.

‘‘He’s a tough little bugger as he won the first two-yearold race of the season and is still going strong,’’ Marsh said. ‘‘His last couple of runs have been good but he lacked focus so we put the blinkers on. He sat nicely in third then took over and won very well.

‘‘We’ll back him up in a week now and run him in the Ryder.’’

The win also provided Coleman with a belated birthday present after the well-respected horseman turned 50 on Friday.

‘‘It was nice of Stevie to give me a birthday present,’’ he said. ‘‘They say you get better every year so now that I’m 50 I will be at my peak form.’’

The victory took Marsh to just five short of the magical 100-win mark for the season with another five northern meetings available to reach the milestone.

NZ Racing Desk