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π» IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE π»
Oaks-bound filly readying for Champions Day assignment
Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News DeskΒ β’ Β February 25th, 2025 5:20 pm
Photo: Race Images
Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are eyeing both of New Zealandβs feature three-year-old staying races in March and their Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) contender Eye Candy appeared at the trials at Cambridge on Tuesday.
Eye Candy was a maiden winner at Ruakaka in mid-December, and after a tough run in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m), she stamped her Oaks credentials with a game performance behind class filly Hinekaha in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth.
Mindful of keeping his filly up to the mark in the interim, Ritchie opted to head to the local course for an Open 1300m heat, where she was close-up in second behind Pow Wow in the hands of Kevin Stott.
βSheβs a quite a big, round sort of a filly that holds plenty of condition. In fact, in the early days, I didnβt think she had much ability but she was just carrying too much weight,β he said. βThat was a trainer error for sure.
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βSheβs gotten herself fit and raced into form, but weβve found that we just canβt do enough at the training track with her. Sheβs certainly one of the first to the buffet, thatβs for sure, and from that perspective, we elected to have the trial today.
βSheβs been a good leader, when she won her race she led and was only run down late by Hinekaha last start, which is nice company. Sheβs shown her best from the front, but she canβt always lead, so we wanted to take a trail today which Kevin did on her.
βHe popped off the fence late and she had a nice little blow, which is what we were expecting from her. Trailing will give us a little bit more ammunition going forward if we need it.β
Eye Candyβs final assignment before her trip to Trentham will be next Saturdayβs Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m), run on Champions Day at Ellerslie for $250,000.
βWeβve decided to go to the Sunline Vase on the big day at Ellerslie rather than chasing the good filly (Leica Lucy) and others in the Lowland (Gr.2, 2100m) as we lead into the Oaks,β Ritchie said.
βWe thought a nice, cruisy trial today would top her off pretty well and sheβll probably join Tuxedo next Monday for a gallop at Ellerslie, which will bring her on a little bit more fitness-wise.β
Also featuring in the heat was her stablemate Pearl Of Alsace, a Group One-performing mare who is looking at a potential tilt at the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m), a race she took out two years ago.
βWe gave her a week off after her last run and she put on about 18-20 kilos, she did extremely well just having a quick break and a freshen-up,β Ritchie said. βWe knew she needed the trial, but it was very much a handbrake trial, and she was never out of first gear, Michael (McNab) said she felt terrific.
βWe are reluctant to go too hard with the nice horses on the poly, but it does serve its purpose from our perspective because they get past the winning post and theyβre back in their paddock fairly quickly afterwards. We appreciate being able to give them a glorified gallop, rather than a trial really.
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βSheβll get ready for either the Group Two at Tauranga (Japan Trophy, 1600m) or the Cuddle Stakes. Sheβll be looking for a shower of rain to show her best and she hasnβt had a lot of luck in her racing this prep.β
Talented four-year-old Nepheti made her first appearance after a spell later in the Open 950m heat, never being tested under Bridget Grylls to finish a tidy fourth.
A stakes performer at three, Nepheti commenced her season well in good company through the spring, but after a tough run on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie, she headed to the paddock.
βShe trialled well, she was just there for a soft trial and she jumped quick. Bridget Grylls eased her out of the early speed and she sat extremely quiet on her,β Ritchie said.
βSheβs a mare that has had a big break, sheβs a big-winded mare so sheβll have another trial and then she will probably head to Counties for a 75 sprint on the 21st of March.
βShe was a bit disappointing last time, but from a wide gate, she didnβt have a lot of luck either. We will be reluctant to run her until she gets a decent draw this time, particularly at Counties where the 1200 can be quite unforgiving if youβre out wide and jump well.
βShe seems to be coming to hand really nicely, a second trial wonβt do her any harm and then weβll give her a few runs in the autumn before the track become too wet for her.β
The stable had a number of three-year-olds trialling through the morning, with The Oaks Stud-owned filly Esperanza and first-time triallist Hinemoa Road noted as ones to watch by Ritchie.
βI think Esperanza has a really promising future, she got back in her trial and worked through the inside to run second to another filly of ours, Way Out,β he said.
βSheβll be one to look out for, as well as Hinemoa Road when he gets out to a mile. We havenβt done a lot with him, but I like the way he moves and he did well in his first educational trial, heβll be more competitive in his next and hard to beat at the races once heβs up to 1600.β
Back at the stable, Tuxedo is gearing up for his biggest assignment to date in next Saturdayβs $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), off the back of a stunning display in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m).
βWe know weβre going to have one of the best turn-of-foot in the race, itβs just a question of the extra 400m,β Ritchie said.
βHe handles the 2000m of the Waikato Guineas with aplomb didnβt he, so based on that run, the Derby is going to be an exciting race for us and he deserves place in the top four in the market.
βIt was probably fortunate that we did miss the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2400m) because it wasnβt pleasant viewing for anybody. But it also gives us the option to go to Australia, as we wonβt be running three times in basically a period of four weeks.
βThat wouldβve virtually evaporated our chance of going to Sydney for the Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2400m). We are mindful that it is his first prep, but by spacing his races and hopefully getting a little bit of rain in Sydney, it is a realistic target for him.
βIf his New Zealand Derby performance warrants it, it gives us that option like many good Derby winners have in the past, to go over and have a crack at the Australian one as well.β
