Promising filly Acapelago will face her sternest test to date when she heads north to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).
The three-year-old feature has attracted a strong line-up, including Group One performer Archaic Smile , Group Two performer Love Poem, and last start Group Three winner Alabama Lass, and trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are keen to see how their filly measures up this weekend.
Acapelago heads into the race in good form, having downed subsequent winner Levakia two starts back before placing behind Group One performer To Catch A Thief at Matamata.
"I am very pleased with how she is coming to hand," Katrina Alexander said.
"She is still a green filly, but she is doing everything right at home, and I was quite encouraged by the way she chased some other horses home in that special conditions maiden at Matamata. She found herself in a position she hadn't been in, to let down and chase things home, which I think she learned a lot from that, and she has trained on really well since.
"It was a nice win against Levakia, who has obviously won since. It is really good when you can find a form race like that and get a line on the other three-year-old fillies and where they are at. Sometimes it is hard when you don't get to race against them consistently, but I am quite encouraged."
Acapelago has drawn the ace barrier for Saturday's contest where she will be ridden by senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.
"I am very encouraged by that draw," Alexander said. "I see there is rain forecast, not that it is going to get bad at Ellerslie, but any moisture won't upset her. It will be Vinnie's first ride on her, but she is not a hard horse to ride, she is pretty straight forward in that respect.
"I am looking forward to seeing how she does measure up. We know that she has still got a lot of learning to do but she might as well do that against her own age group and then we can make a plan going forward for her."
The daughter of Belardo holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton next month, and Alexander said Saturday's result will dictate whether she heads south or stays at home.
"We have left her in there," she said. "I have been to the Riccarton meeting a few times and you can get quite extreme ends of the weather there. We are just keeping it open as an option, it is certainly not set in concrete, and we will discuss that with the owners after Saturday."
Acapelago will be joined on the float trip to Ellerslie by her Group One-winning stablemate La Crique, who will take part in an exhibition at the Auckland track on Saturday.
The six-year-old mare was plagued by foot issues last season, which her trainers were finally able to get on top of and head for a delayed hit-and-run Queensland winter mission where she won the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm in June.
The daughter of Vadamos will likely have her first run of the season at Tauranga next week before following the revamped $500,000 Champion Middle Distance Series over summer.
"She is travelling to Ellerslie on Saturday for an exhibition gallop and all going well there she is likely to step out at Tauranga," Alexander said. "The Open trial system doesn't work for her with the timing of them at the moment.
"She has got a few races mapped out for her here. She will go through that middle distance series and the Auckland Breeders' (Gr.2, 1400m)."
Meanwhile, the Alexanders will head to New Plymouth on Friday with just the one runner – Gioia Magica in the Taranaki-Whanganui Breeders' Association Maiden 1200.
The four-year-old mare ran seventh on debut over 1200m at Taupo last month and her trainers are looking forward to her gaining more raceday experience this week.
"She is a Per Incanto mare that has just taken a bit of time and has still got a lot to learn," Alexander said. "She is not without ability and she looks like a staying filly but she is quite quick over the shorter distances. We are still learning about her as well and any moisture there won't bother her."
