Early Guineas fancies out of contention

Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards still promise to hold a strong hand in the NZB 1000 Guineas despite two of their early fancies for the fillies’ feature being ruled out of the Christchurch party.

Love Triangle and Windborne were both prominent in the early market for next month’s Group One, but the Matamata stable has decided on changes of direction for the pair.

“Love Triangle’s a big filly and we’ll give her a bit more time and she’ll be set for races like the Eight Carat and the Sir Tristram and maybe the Oaks,” Autridge said.

Windborne will be kept to the shorter trips following her last-start fourth over 1400 metres in the Listed John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton.

“It’s debatable whether it was the ground or the distance, but she just battled the last bit and another couple of 100 metres against the best might be too much,” Autridge said.

“She’ll be freshened and we’ll look for something else for her.”

Grigg Stakes placegetter Princess Davone, Guineas Trial winner Special Memories and runner-up Risque remain in 1000 Guineas contention while another three stablemates will have the chance to press their claims at Ellerslie on Saturday.

“We’ll have three runners in the Soliloquy Stakes – Duchess Kate, Tatters and Thetruthisoutthere,” Autridge said.

Duchess Kate is a last-start winner at Taupo, Tatters finished runner-up at Te Rapa at her most recent appearance while Thetruthisoutthere broke her maiden at Ruakaka at the end of last month.

The stable will also be represented at Te Rapa on Monday by the current Gr.1 Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas favourite Scrutinize.

“It was a super run at Hastings and he’s trained on well,” Autridge said.

A fast-closing second in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas, Scrutinize will step out in the Gr.3 James & Annie Sarten Memorial.