Ken and Bev Kelso are hoping for another victory in the country’s premier Group One event for fillies and mares, but this time a different route has been forced on them.
The Matamata trainers won the Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) two years ago with Perfect Fit and Cote D’Or will be attempting to emulate that feat.
“It’s a nice stepping stone for her and she comes in with 55.5kg, with Scapolo in there it’s kept her weight down,” Ken Kelso said.
“When we had Perfect Fit we went to the Westbury Classic first, which was a good lead in to the Breeders’ Stakes, but unfortunately they’ve shifted the Westbury so we had to find an alternative.”Raced by Sir Peter Vela, Cote D’Or won the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) in the spring before she finished fourth in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and was then given a break.
The Makfi mare returned on a high last month with an open handicap success over 1200m at Matamata.“She’s progressed well. This is a nice stepping stone to the Breeders, it’s the logical option,” Kelso said.
Cameron Lammas will take the ride on Cote D’Or with regular jockey Michael Coleman suspended.