Distance only concern for Ozil
The only negative Mike Breslin can find in assessing Ozil’s prospects at Te Rapa is the distance.
The Awapuni trainer can’t fault the three-year-old’s condition ahead of a stern test in Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) today.
‘‘My preference would have been for 1400m but you have to go where the money is,’’ Breslin said.
Ozil has won two of his five starts and he returned from a break in sizzling style on his home course at the end of last month with a defeat of the group winner Gift Of Power.
‘‘It was a good field and he got a long way back so obviously we were happy with the performance and he’s done everything right since,’’ said Breslin, who also shares in the ownership of the son of Denman.
Ozil has showed a preference for good footing and today’s outing is likely to close out his current campaign.
‘‘This will probably be his last run, there’s no point racing him on the wet tracks,’’ Breslin said. ‘‘He’s likely to have a month off and then come back for the late winter and spring.’’
Ozil will be accompanied north by the well-performed sprinter Salamanca who has previously placed at Te Rapa.
A black type winner, the Alamosa seven-year-old opened his current preparation with a sixth placing in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Finance Sprint (1200m) under jockey Sam Spratt.
‘‘I was very happy with his run and he just blew out the last bit,’’ Breslin said.
‘‘Sam said he felt great and I’ve been really happy with him since Hastings.
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will play another strong hand in the main race of the day at Te Rapa, the Travis Stakes,
The Cambridge horsemen will be represented by defending Te Rapa champion Mime and the laststart New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) placegetter Nicoletta.
A handy draw will give Mime’s regular rider Matthew Cameron plenty of options.
‘‘Obviously she won the race last year and she’s well, she’s pretty adaptable,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘Nicoletta is a big, strong mare. She’s very quiet, but when she gets out on the track she’s competitive.’’
Luck in the early running will be key to Merlini’s chances in the Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.
A last-start second on the course, the Tony Pike-prepared representative will jump from the outside gate on his return.
‘‘It’s a similar field to last time, obviously Astor and a couple of others are turning up, but if he can get across and do no work then he’s an each-way chance,’’ the Cambridge trainer said.
Plans for a proposed trip to Australia for Caricature have been shelved after the filly’s unplaced run in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton.
‘‘She really had to win. It’s hard to go to Adelaide off that, but she’s had a good season all the same,’’ Pike said.
Caricature placed in the Lowland Stakes (2100m) and the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) before finishing fourth in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
Not Usual Talent will attempt to end his three-year-old career unbeaten when he tackles the Maara Grange Rehabilitation and Fencing Premier 1600 at Te Rapa today.
The winner of both of his starts, the Stephen Marsh-trained Zacinto gelding faces his sternest test to date in the set weights and penalties age-group contest but stable confidence is high.
‘‘He’s a very smart horse, still very immature but he’s done nothing wrong to date. His two wins have been very strong,’’ Marsh said.
‘‘He’ll have this one and then go out. He’s big and weak, but he could be a Cups horse later on.’’
Under regular rider Danielle Johnson Not Usual Talent has come from back in running for his wins at Te Aroha on debut last month and in three-year-old company at Rotorua earlier this month.
Marsh said tactics were unlikely to change from the outside barrier draw of 10.
‘‘He’ll probably go back from the wide draw, which can make it hard at Te Rapa but he’ll go huge,’’ Marsh said.
‘‘His work has been first-class and he’s holding together well. It’s a good field and it will be a good test for him, but he’ll be hitting the line as well as anything.’’
Marsh will also shoot for feature success at Te Rapa with Group One winner Thee Auld Floozie attempting to go one better than her last-start second placing in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha when she tackles the Travis Stakes (2000m).
‘‘She’s going great but we just don’t want the rain to come. She’s that much better with good ground,’’ he said. ‘‘She’s extremely well and she’ll be hard to beat with the right track and the right run.’’