Embellish early 2000 Guineas favourite

‘‘We’re weighing up what we do next, there’s only time for one more run.’’

Jamie Richards

The Te Akau team behind exciting three-year-old Embellish is plotting a final move towards the Group I 2000 Guineas.

On the strength of an impressive last-start maiden win, the colt is the current pre-post favourite for next month’s 1600m race at Riccarton.

‘‘We’re weighing up what we do next, there’s only time for one more run,’’ said Jamie Richards, who trains Embellish with Stephen Autridge.

‘‘He could either go to the Sarten Memorial or we find an easier option and we’ll make that decision in the next 10 days.’’

Currently at $8 and the sole entrant in single figures for the Riccarton classic, the son of Savabeel leapfrogged to the top of the market following his breakthrough success at Ruakaka earlier this month.

‘‘We were very pleased with the way he won and once he came to the outside he showed a good turn of foot,’’ Richards said.

Purchased at Karaka by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $775,000 out of Waikato Stud’s draft, Embellish is a brother to the Group I New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) winner, Diademe.

‘‘He was bought as a stallion so he needs to win the big races,’’ Richards said.

The stable isn’t short of Guineas contenders and also has Age Of Fire, Griffin, Heart Of Courage, Te Akau Shark and Wandering Eye in the mix.

‘‘Age Of Fire will probably run in the John Grigg or the Zacinto Stakes as his final lead-up and he’s a better colt on top of the ground,’’ Richards said.

‘‘Griffin was good in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and he’ll go to the Sarten and Heart Of Courage will run in the mile at Ashburton on October 21.

‘‘He will have to win, and win well, there to go to the Guineas.

‘‘Te Akau Shark will run at Matamata on Saturday in the 3-year-old over 1400m, but we will be keeping an eye on the weather for him.’’