Track conditions boost confidence
Jason Bridgman, would love nothing more than to set his season on a blacktype path with victory in tomorrow’s feature at Te Rapa writes Tim Ryan.
Spellbinder’s only win at the distance of tomorrow’s Group III Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate came in a maiden race at Taupo last August.
However, her Matamata trainer, Jason Bridgman, thinks the O’Reilly four-year-old mare has a reasonable chance to emulate that 1200m win against a hot field in tomorrow’s feature at Te Rapa.
In a race peppered with Group I performers she will need to be sharp to match motors with the likes of Viadana, Veyron, Xanadu and company.
Her immediate goals hinge on a win with Bridgman believing anything less will see her missing the cut for the 1400m Makfi Challenge Stakes at Hastings on August 30 — the first Group I of the season.
Bridgman is confident easing of the track, rated in the slow range, is a positive for Saturday although he thinks 1200m is well short of her best distance.
‘‘If the track was dead or better I don’t think she [Spellbinder] could be competitive but the slow rating gives her a good chance,’’ Bridgman said.
‘‘She’s as good as we can get her without a trial but we’ve got to be realistic, we are taking on some good ones.
‘‘She seems a lot stronger this time in and she is working as good as she ever has.’’
Getting to the Makfi is not weighing too heavily on Bridgman’s mind but gaining black-type for the well-bred mare is.
‘‘Obviously black-type is the objective, there’s a long season ahead and some ideal fillies and mares races she can contest.
‘‘The Makfi is there and looks a good race for her. If we came through the Foxbridge well then we will think about the Makfi.’’
Matthew Cameron continues his successful association with Spellbinder in the Foxbridge. Cameron has ridden her in all her assignments for four wins (two at Listed level), two seconds and a Gr I third for stakes of nearly $167,000.
Bridgman has serious doubts around lining up stable runner All Decked Out at Te Rapa with a strong chance he will be reserved for Taupo on Wednesday.
‘‘He’s a duffer on wet ground so we will put an entry in for Taupo. I want to get regular racing into him and a run on the nice big track at Te Rapa would have been ideal but he needs a decent surface.’’