Matamata trio in Group One spotlight
A trio of Matamata horses are in the spotlight in the countdown to the Gr. 1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings on Saturday.
Gary Hennessy’s Ocean Park in 2012 was the last Matamatatrained horse to win the first Group One feature of the new season on his way to winning the Cox Plate in Melbourne, but five years later that could be addressed with a potent entry.
Volpe Veloce, the winner of all but one of her nine starts, has been the TAB favourite since her impressive fresh-up win at Te Rapa on August 5 and Graham Richardson, who trains her in partnership with Gavin Parker, reports that all is well with the talented four-year-old ahead of her Group One debut.
‘‘She’s been ticking over nicely the past couple of weeks and she should be spot-on for Saturday,’’ Graham said on Monday.
‘‘She’s a very clean-winded horse and doesn’t need a lot of fast work, so she’ll probably have a hitout by herself in the morning. If we think it’s the right thing to do we might take her for bit of a day out at the races here on Wednesday – just for a look and a walk around, that’s all.’’
Likewise Karyn McQuade couldn’t be happier with the progress her big race prospect Underthemoonlight has made since her win in the Gr. 2 Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa nine days ago.
‘‘It was eight weeks between runs and we expected her to take a lot of improvement out of the race – and she has,’’ said Karyn. ‘‘She felt great in her first piece of work after Te Rapa, so all’s sweet, we’re looking forward to the weekend.’’
Underthemoonlight, on the third line of Tarzino Trophy betting at $10, found the heavy conditions in her Foxbridge Plate win right to her liking, but her trainer and part-owner remains open- minded about what she will have to contend with on the weekend.
‘‘She doesn’t have to have a slow or heavy track, just so long as there’s some cushion underneath. Mind you, we also know she’ll cope if there’s any rain about whereas it won’t suit some of the opposition.’’
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Perfect Fit is in the better ground category, especially after her below-par effort in the Foxbridge Plate.
‘‘There’s no denying, it was a disappointing result, but the ground is all we can put it down to,’’ Ken Kelso said.
‘‘The main thing is she came through it well, we can’t fault her, and Michael (Coleman) was happy with her work here on Saturday morning.’’
Hastings missed most of the rain that fell in other regions and the track was rated an enviable Dead4 on Monday.
A variable forecast suggests a dry week but possible rain on Friday and Saturday.