Derby winner makes his return at Taranaki
The Cambridge stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will be well represented in today’s Taranaki Cup meeting, with a host of runners in the feature events.
The Gr.3 Platinum Homes Taranaki Cup (1800m) marks the return of last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Vin De Dance.
The son of Roc De Cambes finished fourth in both the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and was plagued by a back injury which thwarted his spring campaign.
After two solid performances at the trials, Vin De Dance is rated a $4.80 chance behind last start Group Three winner Consensus ($2.50), while consistent galloper Overtheriver ($7.50) and Vin De Dance’ stablemate Saint Emilion ($8.50) are other leading contenders.
“He is pretty good and we like to think he is on the way back,” Baker said of Vin De Dance. “He looks great and has been working well, he might just require a race or two to get back into it.
“I’d like to think if Vin De Dance could show a bit of form we would take him to Sydney because he is a good stayer at his best.”
Baker said Saint Emilion had bounced back from a disappointing run when a well-beaten sixth behind Danzdanzdance in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day and the longer-term plan was to see the hardy seven-year-old return to Ellerslie for the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
“He has freshened up a bit since his run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day,” Baker said. “At 1800m under the set weights and penalties he is not too badly off and should go a handy race.”
The Cambridge trainers will also get a better guide as to the pecking order of their three-year-old classic fillies when Vee Cece and Clementina clash in the Listed Fasttrack Insurance Oaks Prelude (1800m).
“It will be interesting to see where they sit,” Baker said. “1800m will certainly suit Clementina, she is knocking on the door. She is a promising daughter of Savabeel.
“Vee Cece won well at her last start at Te Rapa and she ran a fast time. She is by Canford Cliffs, who was a good miler but she is out of a Zabeel mare so I think she should get the trip.
“We think they might both be Oaks fillies, but we are still a fair way away yet.”
Baker said he was expecting good runs from his runners on the undercard including consistent mare Konstantina, while Lady Blue will represent the stable and the Cambridge Jockey Club in the $80,000 Taranaki Summer Challenge (1400m). The race is restricted to horses that were maiden gallopers on December 1, with prizemoney funded by slot-holders, modelled on the successful A$14 million Everest (1200m) in Sydney.
● He might be the two-year-old trainer of the moment but Matamata’s Jamie Richards isn’t convinced his debutante filly Folk Dress should be favourite for today’s Gr.3 Woburn Farm 2YO Classic (1200m) at New Plymouth Raceway.
Richards produced a Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) trifecta at Ellerslie last Saturday from the five twoyear-olds Te Akau Racing had in the race but he was more guarded about adding another juvenile feature this weekend.
“We’re pleased with her. We’ve put her in at Matamata on Sunday and at New Plymouth, which is clearly the tougher race, but she’s drawn wide at Matamata so we’ll probably give her the trip away,” Richards said.
“It’s a strong field at New Plymouth, but she’s a nice filly and we’d like to give her the opportunity. I expect her to run well. She’s a top four chance anyhow.”
Pierro filly Folk Dress was a spectacular 7¼-length trial winner at Cambridge in early January, which has earned her the top position in the TAB’s final field market for the Woburn Farm Classic at $4.
“We do like her but she’s only having her first start against some pretty well performed ones so it’s not going to be easy.” Folk Dress will carry the Coolmore silks, having joined Te Akau last year after she was withdrawn from the Karaka yearling sales following a sales preparation at Matamata’s Rich Hill Stud.
Richards said he would consider Folk Dress for the Gr.2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on February 23.
Meanwhile, Richards revealed Karaka Million winner Probabeel was in line to race in Sydney at the upcoming autumn carnival.
“Probabeel is just having 10 days off at home. We’ll sit down with Brendon and Jo (Lindsay, owners) once we get through the sales and make a bit of a plan, but the word from the team is they’d love to get her ready for the Sires’ Produce in Australia and that could include a lead-up run three weeks beforehand,” he said. “She’s a pretty exciting filly. The future is incredibly exciting for her.”
The Gr.1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) is run at Randwick on April 6, three weeks after the Gr.2 Magic Night Stakes (1100m) for two-year-old fillies at Rosehill on March 16.