Curtain set to drop on Illuminati
Ben Foote has hopes of adding further black t ype to Illuminati’s record before the curtain falls on the talented mare’s racing career.
The Cambridge trainer, who also shares in the ownership of the sevenyear- old, said she was in good order to open her final campaign in today’s Te Akau’s Gingernuts, Trans- Tasman Group One Winner 1200 at Ellerslie.
“She’s ready and I was going to take her down to Awapuni for the Listed race over 1400m, but she just got away on me a bit so I had to change plans and drop her back for this 1200m race. I’m really happy with her and she’s come up well. She’ll probably go to Tauranga after this and if she shows she’s worthy then we’ll look at the Easter.”
Illuminati has been an excellent servant of Foote’s stable, but all good things have to come to an end.
“They can only go around for so long and we’ve decided to put her on the market, we’ll probably put her in the Gold Coast broodmare sale in June,” he said.
Illuminati has fashioned the impressive strike rate of 10 wins from her 39 starts with a Listed victory to her credit in the Rotorua Stakes.
The seven- year- old has also been a multiple group three placegetter in the Winter Cup, White Robe Lodge Handicap and in Cuddle Stakes.
Maija Vance has been booked for the ride at Ellerslie, where Illuminati has won twice.