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How to sync SN with your TVQuality 3YOs give trainers high Guineas hopes
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • November 4th, 2026 3:56 pm
Dashing Dixie will contest Saturday's Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton | Photo: Kenton Wright / Race Images
Wexford Stables will hold strong hands in both Classics at Riccarton and haven’t completely ruled out adding to their numbers in the males’ feature.
Fiamma and Dashing Dixie will run in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), with co-favourite Coniston and Rip Tide in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) a week later.
The fillies remain nominated for the latter feature and the door remains ajar, but their participation will very much depend on their efforts in their primary target on the opening day of the Christchurch carnival.
“We’ll get this weekend out of the way and analyse the performances and see how they pull up, they are still in the entries,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan.
“We’ll see if their performances would warrant going again, funny things can happen and it’s been done before. We’ll just wait and see, with our focus on Saturday.”
Both fillies have enjoyed trouble-free preparations and headed south in tip-top order.
“So far, so good with them and we’ve just got to hope the rest of the week goes well,” Scott said.
“Both left here healthy and well and they had a nice gallop on Tuesday morning and worked in a manner that suggests they are peaking.
“They both put in close to personal bests on the training track and that bodes well for the weekend.”
Fiamma broke her maiden in fine style at Taupo two runs back and followed up with a strong effort for third in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).
“She is improving with racing, and we think she has taken good benefit from Ellerslie, and she’s bred to run the mile,” Scott said.
“We have good belief that she’s worthy of getting black print, we see her as a big chance.”
Craig Grylls will guide Fiamma’s fortunes and Joe Doyle will continue his association with Dashing Dixie, who has been finishing off well in recent starts, including a third in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and sixth in the Soliloquy.
“Her best runs have been left-handed. Two starts ago at Hastings she was very good and on debut she won,” Scott said.
“She’s probably showed a better turn of foot going left than right so we’re hoping that will aid her.
“She’s thriving and has handled her spring prep really well, we think they will both run the mile strongly and we’re looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile at Te Rapa on Saturday, juvenile Helena Bel has made all the right moves ahead of the Sword of State – Proven Sire 2YO (1100m), while Saja was a stylish debut winner and runs in the Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day 12 December (1200m).
“Helena Bel is a nice two-year-old who has trialled well and Saja has had one start for one win and won nicely, and we think she’ll handle any rain if it comes,” Scott said.
Meanwhile, an El Roca filly who was third at the first time of asking on the track last month is a strong chance in the Belle Family Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Race (1200m) at Taupo on Thursday.
“Mega Roc was good on debut and think she’s improved so hopefully the team has a good week,” Scott said.
