Christchurch trainer Andrew Carston is hoping a decision to bypass New Zealand’s two juvenile Group One races reaps stakes-race rewards for talented Jimmy Choux filly What Choux Want at Riccarton on Saturday.
Carston will give What Choux Want her final start of the season in the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m), confident he has the filly in the right condition to finish her two-year-old campaign with a black-type win.
What Choux Want has had six starts for a win at Riccarton and four placings, as well as finishing a brave fifth in the Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie in January.
She has already twice placed in stakes company, finishing second in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last November and third in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) in February.
"I gave her three weeks off at Kamada Park in Palmerston North after that race and she's been back in work here since then," Carston said.
"I'm as happy as I can be with her going into this race. I thought it was the right option for her, rather than going to the Group One races that we'd target a Listed race at home.
"I was happy with her Breeders' run for third and she definitely hadn't come to the end of it, but I thought if she couldn't win that race against the fillies, she'd be up against it in the Group Ones with the colts to beat as well."
The Champagne Stakes has attracted an even field of two-year-olds and while Carston is expecting another bold performance from What Choux Want, he admits his confidence has been dented by the filly drawing the outside barrier of 12.
"There's a lot of different formlines coming into the race so it's a difficult race to assess. There's no doubt she's the best-proven horse but there might be a few that are catching up. But I'm confident she'll run well," Carston said.
While What Choux Want heads to the paddock after Saturday's race, she may not be spelling for too long, with Carston eyeing a spring preparation aimed at November's Gr.1 Gavelhouse 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
"She'll be on the Guineas path. The Canterbury Belle Stakes will be her first target then we'll work it out from there," he said.
