A host of fillies with classic ambitions will be on show at Taupo on Wednesday.
It's a race sure to provide pointers for sterner tasks to follow through the spring and summer.
The prospect of a drier track has, as usual, attracted a competitive group of three-year-olds in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Handicap.
“It is a really good field and good fillies will come out of it,” said Matamata trainer Andrew Scott, who has the unbeaten Orange Peel in the line-up.
The daughter of Duke Of Marmalade is a more recent addition to the stable of Scott and Lance O’Sullivan after her debut victory from the yard of John Sargent, who has since closed his Matamata base to concentrate on his Randwick operation.
“We’re pleased with her and there will be a lot of improvement to come,” Scott said. “The good footing is the most important thing and it doesn’t knock them around first-up.
“We will be taking it a race at a time with her and her form will dictate which direction we take. She’s a hard filly to get a line on as she’s such a laid-back track worker, but she’s one from one so she’s got plenty going for her.”
The top three in the book – Consensus, Queen Of Navarre and Dentelle – will have the benefit of recent racing over their resuming rivals, which also features the highly-regarded duo of Dream Run and Divissima.
They both pleased connections with forward showings at the recent Te Teko trials.
Dream Run is expected to head to the Gr.3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings on September 20 after Taupo.
“Hopefully, we can then press on toward Christchurch for the Guineas,” co-trainer Paul Shailer said.
The path to Riccarton for the Group One classic will be one connections of the majority of runners in the Taupo event will be hoping to follow.
