Guy chasing further Trentham spoils
Gothenburg and O’Hara attempt to replicate her 2015 success in the Levin Classic
Danica Guy can’t split her stakes representatives at Trentham today.
The Matamata trainer is chasing her second Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) win in three years when Gothenburg and O’Hara attempt to replicate her
2015 success with the longshot Gaultier.
“They are both different horses and they are very well and I’m happy with the pair of them,” Guy said.
Like Gaultier, Gothenburg is a son of Rios and two runs back he was a smart maiden winner at his second raceday appearance before he was beaten by a wide gate at Tauranga.
“It all went wrong and he jumped too well for his own good and was parked out wide all the way,” Guy said.
“He’s a big-striding horse and going left-handed on a big track like Wellington will suit him.”
Gothenburg will again be ridden by Jason Waddell while Michael Coleman will renew his association with O’Hara, having ridden the Rip Van Winkle filly to break her maiden at Te Rapa in November.
She has since placed in Rating 65 company and finished seventh and sixth respectively in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and the Gr.2 Eight Carat Stakes (1600m).
“She ended up working quite hard from the draw last time,” Guy said. “She stuck on alright and from a better gate I’m sure she’ll go a nice race.”
Guy is also expecting a strong performance from Spree in The Hanley Formula Premier (2100m) off the back of a Te Rapa success. Last time out she was a solid fourth in a competitive special conditions event at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
“I was really happy with her at Auckland,” Guy said. “She hit the front a bit too far out and she was only beaten just over half a length.”
● Christchurch trainer Terri Rae is no stranger to feature race success at Trentham and she is hoping for further Group Three success at the Wellington track this weekend.
Rae produced Hold It Harvey to win the Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham in 2011 and has two chances to repeat at that level today.
Rae will saddle 5-year-old Alamosa mare Aspen Lass in the Gr.3 Mills Reef Trentham Stakes (2100m) and the Darci Brahma six-year-old gelding Kolonel Kev in the Gr.3 Tui — Backing Winners Since 1889 Anniversary (1600m), as well as Sacred Desire in the El Cheapo Cars Premier (1200m).
“We’ve made the trip to Trentham quite a few times and Hold It Harvey was able to win there, but he was an everywhere horse. It didn’t matter where he raced,” Rae said.
Aspen Lass and Kolonel Kev clashed last time out in the Listed Timaru Stakes (1600m), with Kolonel Kev making it two wins in as many starts for his new stable, while Aspen Lass was never able to obtain clear running and finished seventh.
“I would have preferred a better draw but she just hasn’t had any luck with her barriers. She settles really well though. She jumps out and tucks her head so she goes over ground well.
“She has that stamina and a reasonable turn of foot. This is a huge step up for her but it will give us a line on where she’s at in this company.”
A winner of five of her 17 starts, Aspen Lass was second in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton in October before winning the Listed Metropolitan Handicap (2500m) at the same track and last season finished fifth in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Handicap (1600m) at Wingatui.
“If she doesn’t quite match it with them on Saturday she’ll go to the Dunedin Cup [over 2400m at Wingatui on February 3], but if she goes really well she does hold a nomination for the Auckland Cup. We’ll assess things after Saturday.”
Rae attributed a change of environment for sparking Kolonel Kev, who chases a hat-trick of wins when he contests the Anniversary.
“It’s a really good field, but he’s got a good draw which will help him. He’s really only raced in Rating 85 company before his Timaru win so we’ll just see how he goes,” Rae said.
“He was boxed in for a little bit but he was strong to the line when he got out and he deserved a trip up north.”
Rae was unsure what path Kolonel Kev would follow after today, suggesting he wouldn’t be suited in the White Robe Lodge (1600m) at Wingatui on February 3 with the change in conditions from handicap to weight-for-age.
She was pleased with the third of her travelling party Sacred Desire, who races in Rating 75 company today after a luckless third at Timaru last start. “She’s consistent and didn’t get a run up the straight the other day,” Rae said.