Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pericles chases Group 1 glory at Sandown
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker is keen to keep his spring momentum rolling at Sandown on Saturday, with Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) lining up in the G1 C.F. Orr Stakes.
Baker had also accepted with the gelding in the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle, where he drew barrier 21 and was carded to carry the topweight of 61kg. However, he scratched Pericles on Thursday, preferring the Group 1 option down south.
Pericles heads into his Group 1 assignment on the back of a strong performance, having won the $3 million G2 Russell Balding over 1300 metres at Rosehill late last month.
Pericles after winning the G2 Russell Balding | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"I think he’s in great order," Baker told Racing.com.
"He looks absolutely fantastic and it’s just his fourth run this preparation.
"He (Pericles) looks absolutely fantastic and it’s just his fourth run this preparation." - Bjorn Baker
"I think he’s going as well as ever and I think his best trip is around the 1400 metres. He hasn’t raced at Sandown since I’ve had him, but I think he won the Autumn Stakes there as a 3-year-old so that’s a good thing.
"It’s a hard race and you have to respect your opponents, but I think he goes in as a live chance."
Baker also confirmed a proposed trip to Perth had been called off for Pericles.
"The Perth plane takes off on Monday so that’s a bit of a stretch there, so we’ll save him maybe for the early autumn - similar to last year (when ran and won first-up in the Futurity)."
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It is a small but select field, with several genuine chances. Three-time Group 1 winner over the distance Beiwacht (Bivouac) commands respect, as do fellow Group 1 winners Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto ) and Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}).
The emerging contender is Shadhavar (Pride Of Dubai). While she needs to take another step to compete at Group 1 level, she arrives in good form and will be chasing a winning hat-trick for trainer Tom Dabernig.
Weir eyes Guineas breakthrough with Magna Sententia
The Taige Weir stable has been in strong form in recent times and, following Listed success with Billycart (Dundeel ) during the carnival, the young trainer is chasing a maiden Group success on Saturday.
Magna Sententia (Written By) will line up in the G2 Sandown Guineas after an impressive last-start maiden victory at Geelong, where he scored by just under six lengths.
The 3-year-old gelding looks the type capable of making the step up in grade, with Billycart's jockey Dean Yendall booked for the ride.
Weir will be hoping the stable's strong run continues, with Magna Sententia providing another opportunity for celebration.
"It's been a very big week and I got carried away with the celebrations a little bit, but I'm dealing with that now and catching up on life," Weir said.
"It was just amazing. It's been just over a week now, it's just gone so quick and the support and the messages from everyone has been pretty cool. It's very special."
Weir originally headed to Geelong with the aim of qualifying Magna Sententia for the $250,000 Emerging Stars Final over 1400 metres at Ballarat on December 5, but his dominant maiden victory has prompted a change of plans.
Taige Weir | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
"We had him set for that race because we wanted to qualify him for the race on Ballarat Cup Day, that was the whole idea of it," she said.
"But I wasn't expecting that. He hit the front and I thought he was going to win, everything else was off the bridle trying to chase us, but I didn't think we'd win by that much. I originally just put a (Guineas) nom in thinking we wouldn't run, then I just the progressive acceptances and, while it's still strong, it doesn't look as strong as previous years, and I thought we better just have a crack."
Magna Sententia heads into the race as the pre-post favourite, but there are several other runners worth considering.
The Chris Waller-trained Consulate (Home Affairs) is among them, while the Zoustar colt Star Of Macedon has been racing honestly. Arthur Pace's Hydro Rush (Headwater) comes through weaker grade races like the favourite, but the manner of his last-start victory suggests he could be a knockout chance.
Aroused ready for another step at Sandown
The beautifully bred Aroused (Snitzel) has shown plenty of ability in her short career, winning on debut in dominant fashion at Ballarat in late September before stepping straight up to Listed level at Flemington, where she finished second behind Caddington (Captivant).
Still relatively unexposed, she looks capable of picking up some of the prize money in Saturday's $1 million G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes over 1200 metres at Sandown.
Aroused | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
While she remains a little green and inexperienced compared with some of her rivals, trainer Begg is convinced there is further improvement to come.
"She ran very well, she just got a little bit exposed for inexperience up the straight," Begg told Racing And Sports.
"She (Aroused) ran very well, she just got a little bit exposed for inexperience up the straight." - Grahame Begg
"Also, she had to do it at both ends. She drew the outside gate and the one down on the inside probably dropped off a bit quick and she got left in front but she ran very, very well and we think this is a nice race for her.
"It's a nice time between both races that three-week gap."
There is no shortage of chances in an even and competitive line-up of classy 3-year-olds.
Natural Fling (Home Affairs) is clearly the highest-rated and most credentialled filly in the field and commands respect. Affari (Home Affairs) is consistent and looks progressive, while Caddington, who defeated Aroused last time out, shapes as a good each-way chance at attractive odds.
Grahame Begg | Image courtesy of Grahame Begg Racing
Sweynesday chasing $1 million Hunter prize
The former-Kiwi Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse) has only had a couple of starts for the Annabel and Rob Archibald stable, but two encouraging performances have him looking a genuine contender for Saturday's lucrative Listed The Hunter over 1300 metres at Newcastle.
His latest effort was particularly impressive, finishing a narrow second after charging home from near last in the G3 Rising Fast down the straight on Derby Day during the carnival behind Ndola (Justify {USA}).
Sweynesday (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Co-trainer Rob Archibald believes the gelding is getting close to the form that made him a Group 1 performer before joining the stable.
"He was Group 1 placed before we got him, so he was very well credentialed," Archibald told Racing And Sports.
"Our job was to get him back to that level. I feel like we're getting somewhere near that. His first two runs were good. First-up at Caulfield against the pattern, he closed off really well.
"At Flemington, he was excellent. He got a long way back and had to make a big run, and he was narrowly denied. He's building well. I'm not sure how many more runs he has this 'prep', whether this pulls him up. But he's certainly a really nice horse that I think can win some nice races."
Rob Archibald | Image courtesy of Annabel Neasham Racing
Sweynesday will be chasing his first Australian victory, and Archibald is optimistic there is plenty more to come, particularly given the gelding has raced just 14 times for six wins.
"I suppose that's the beauty of being lightly raced, there's not too much wear and tear on the body," he said.
"He's still a fresh horse, very easy to train, and I really like him. He looks to get a lovely run on Saturday.
"He's still a fresh horse, very easy to train, and I really like him. He looks to get a lovely run on Saturday." - Rob Archibald
"He's going there in quite good form, different form lines to a lot of the other horses because he's coming out of Melbourne. But I can't fault him. He's going well."
It is a big, even field, with several other runners capable of featuring prominently.
The smart sprinter King Of Roseau (Capitalist) is among them, as is the in-foal Infancy (Wadjina), while General Salute (Russian Revolution) still commands respect despite becoming the topweight following the scratching of Pericles (Street Boss {USA}). His class and toughness make him a runner to watch.
Marsh chasing more Group 1 glory with Raymond
Trainer Stephen Marsh has developed a habit of winning some of New Zealand's biggest races in recent times, including last year's G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas with star filly Well Written (Written Tycoon).
Now he is looking to add another major success, with Raymond (NZ) (Ardrossan) shaping as a genuine contender in Saturday's G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 10 years after Marsh won the same race with Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto ).
Raymond is still a maiden, but he has shown plenty of ability, including a strong third in the G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas behind Old Fashioned (NZ) (Proisir).
That form has received a significant boost, with Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor ), who finished second in the Hawkes Bay Guineas, subsequently winning the G2 Soliloquy Stakes before running third in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. Angels Halo (NZ) (Proisir), who finished fourth in the Hawkes Bay Guineas, also went on to win the 1000 Guineas.
Stephen Marsh | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Raymond followed that performance with a fast-finishing fifth, coming from well back in the field in the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa. It was an effort that suggested the 1600 metres of Saturday's Guineas should be well within his capabilities.
"It's been ten years since Ugo Foscolo won and I think there's a real sense of timing around Raymond," Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
"He has been racing really well from wide draws and his sectionals have been good, this looks a perfect race for him.eaming out for the mile, and the side winkers have worked well for him."
It is a relatively small field for the Guineas, with several interesting contenders.
The well-bred Wootton Bassett (GB) duo of Excite and Coniston (NZ) both look genuine chances, while Sword Of Stars (NZ) (Sword Of State) bypassed the 1000 Guineas to take on the boys.
Dashing Dixie (NZ) (Alabama Express) also adds interest, backing up just seven days after her excellent second in the 1000 Guineas.
