Whirlwind week for Richards
WELLINGTON: Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards has experienced a whirlwind week.
It all began at Ellerslie on Saturday when Cool Aza Beel secured Te Akau’s fourth successive Karaka Million 2YO before Probabeel became the first horse to win the Karaka Million 2YO3YO Classic double.
It continued into New Zealand Bloodstock’s national yearling sale, which began on Sunday, at which Richards assisted Te Akau principal David Ellis in securing 30 yearlings, including three of the top five lots in the book one session at Karaka.
“We were very busy and active,” Richards said. “It all went really well and we bought some lovely horses at all different price ranges, so if anyone wanted to be involved they will certainly be made to feel very welcome.”
There was no rest for Richards as he returned to his Matamata base to oversee the final preparations of several of his stable runners with stakes targets this weekend.
Leading the tangerine and blue charge today will be Prise De Fer who will attempt to continue his picket fence form line in the Taranaki Cup over 1800m.
Purchased by Ellis for $100,000 out of Trelawney Stud’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock premier yearling sale draft, Prise De Fer has hit a purple patch of form as a 4yrold.
He started the season with a third placing over 1300m at Taupo before winning four on end, culminating with victory in the Rich Hill Mile over 1600m at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
“He was given a lovely ride threedeep with a bit of cover in the Rich Hill Mile, he had a nice light weight and I thought he did it pretty impressively,” Richards said.
The Savabeel gelding worked with Probabeel at Ellerslie last week and Richards believes he is on song before Saturday’s assignment.
“He has drawn a bit awkwardly (11), but we think he is going well and he is going to be very competitive.”
Richards will also lineup Scott Base in the Taranaki Cup and is hoping for a strong showing from the 2018 Karaka Million 3YO Classic winner.
“Scott Base is improving,” Richards said. “He has taken a little while to find his feet a bit. He has had some injuries that have been well documented, but we are happy with how he is coming along.
“He is probably going to be back in the field from a wide barrier (12), so we are hoping to see him run home well.”
Prise De Fer has been installed a $2.80 favourite for the race by TAB bookmakers ahead of Mongolian Marshal at $5 and Guillada at $8. — NZ Racing Desk