Shark circles Group I sprint
It’s hard to believe that outstanding galloper Te Akau Shark does not have a Group I win to his name, but the striking chestnut with a cult-following is strongly favoured to put that misnomer to bed at Te Rapa tomorrow.
The Jamie Richards-trained gelding is set to commence a new campaign in the Group I BCD Group Sprint (1400m), where TAB Bookmakers have installed the five-year-old as a $1.70 favourite.
The lightly tried galloper finished second in a trial behind Catalyst at Matamata last month, before an impressive solo gallop between races at Ellerslie’s Karaka Million meeting and trainer Jamie Richards is confident he can break his duck this weekend.
‘‘He is forward enough,’’ Richards said. ‘‘He has had a trial and a decent exhibition gallop and he is a naturally fit horse that should be ready to rock ’n’ roll.’’
Richards believes the Group II winner that boasts placings in the Group I Cox Plate (2040m) and Group I Epsom Handicap (1600m) at his two most recent spring outings, has returned a stronger horse.
‘‘He is certainly carrying a bit more condition,’’ Richards said. ‘‘This is the first time we have been able to give him a spring campaign and then bring him back for an autumn campaign.
‘‘Each year before this he has sort of gone off a little bit and needed a good long spell, so I guess that is one query but we are very happy with him.
‘‘The plan has been to kick him off here before we look at Sydney and it would be great if he could get that Group I for his CV before he headed over the Tasman.’’
Despite the only obvious pacemaker being last-start Group I winner The Mitigator, Richards is not fazed by the potential sitand-sprint tactics.
‘‘I am not too concerned about that. From barrier four, Opie [Bosson, jockey] has got options. The track looked a picture when we were there for the barrier draw and hopefully it is going to play nice and fair.
‘‘He is probably best suited at a mile to 2000m now, but I think 1400m fresh really suits him.’’
Safely through his fresh-up run at Te Rapa, Te Akau Shark will likely follow the Group I trail blazed by champion mare Winx during the Sydney carnival.
The son of Rip Van Winkle will contest the Group I trio of the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on February 29, George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March 21 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 11 – the same three races Winx made her own from 2017-19. ‘‘Three weeks between each run I think suits him and hopefully there is a little give in the ground in Sydney,’’ Richards said.
Stablemate Avantage looks the hardest to beat in the eight-horse field, with Richards describing the last-start Group I winner as being in career-best form.
‘‘I am very happy with her soundness,’’ he said. ‘‘She has been a filly that has had a few niggles along the way, hence why she missed the spring of her three-year-old season.
Jamie Richards
‘‘I thought she was terrific in the Telegraph (Group I, 1200m) and there is no indication at home that she has trained off. She has gone forward and I think the three weeks since the Telegraph really suits her.
‘‘We’ve got a few options that we want to consider. One of them is Otaki (Group I, 1600m) and the other is Australia, but we just want to get through Saturday first and then work it out.’’
Richards also reported that quality three-year-old Probabeel had come through her exertions when winning the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) in fine fettle.
‘‘She flies to Sydney next week and will trial at Randwick on the 17th and then runs in the Surround (Group I, 1400m) on the 29th.’’
NZ Racing Desk
‘‘The plan has been to kick him off here before we look at Sydney and it would be great if he could get that Group I for his CV before he headed over the Tasman.’’