Cortado in Ryder test for Colgan and Williams stable
Richly-bred filly Cortado has shown Byerley Park training partners Peter and Dawn Williams and Paul Richards that she deserves her black-type opportunity.
The Sir Peter Vela-owned blueblood tackles the Listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki on Saturday in an attempt to boost her bankroll and future breeding value.
‘‘It’s a great chance for blacktype and she’s shown us enough to warrant her place in the field,’’ Peter Williams said.
The Sepoy filly out of Macchiato meets a quality field in the $50,000 feature over 1200m.
It is the final chance for 2-yearold black-type as the current season draws to a close.
Cortado ($7.50) is on the fifth line of betting behind Manhattan Street ($2.90), Mongolian Wolf ($3.80), Sophia Magia ($4.80) and Impulsive Habit ($6.50).
Williams is under no illusions about the task Cortado and jockey Vinnie Colgan face.
‘‘This will definitely be a test for her,’’ he said.
‘‘I honestly don’t know how she will handle such a heavy track.’’
Her win and two thirds in a three-race career have all been achieved on slow surfaces.
‘‘All her work here [at Byerley Park] is on the sand so she hasn’t been tried on a heavy track at all,’’ Williams said.
Colgan rode the filly on debut for third after Mark Du Plessis had won a trial on her before his departure to ride in Japan.
Stable apprentice Doni Prastiyou, who was formerly based at Riccarton, then took over but connections have decided to go with experience on Saturday.
‘‘Vinnie was impressed when he rode her and was always engaged for this race,’’ Williams said.
Prastiyou has made a good impression in the north since his move from Christchurch earlier in the winter.
‘‘He’s riding well and he will stay on up here in the new season,’’ Williams said.
The stable will also welcome the return of Du Plessis from Japan.
Du Plessis resumes at Te Rapa’s Foxbridge Plare meeting on August 13.
With spring approaching several promising horses have returned to the Byerley Park barn.
‘‘We have lost a couple of our headline horses like Shuka and Vavasour [retired] but have some nice young horses coming through,’’ Williams said.
‘‘Veearma [a Darci Brahma filly] and Madam Woo [a Fastnet Rock filly] are two we really like and we will get them ready for 3-year-old races.
‘‘A horse that has come back looking well is Palace Rock.
‘‘She has really matured into a nice horse and her breed does improve with time – she should be in for a good campaign.’’
The rising 5-year-old Fastnet Rock mare has won two races and finished close-up in a number of other races against strong opposition.
‘‘Triaction has returned looking well and so has Marciano,’’ Williams said.
Elusive City mare Triaction has won four from 10 and like Faltaat gelding Marciano, also a four-race winner, is rising five.
Natuzzi ‘‘a great old campaigner’’ is on the comeback trail.
The rising 8-year-old has won 10 races and $460,000-plus for connections.
‘‘He’s probably not a Group I horse now but we are looking at the Stewards with him.
‘‘He’s dogged with big weights in open handicaps so it will be hard for him.’’