Last hurrah for Illuminati

Ben Foote has hopes of adding further black type to Illuminati’s record before the curtain falls on the talented mare’s racing career.

The Cambridge trainer, who also shares in the ownership of the seven-year-old, said she was in good order to open her final campaign in Saturday’s Te Akau’s Gingernuts, Trans-Tasman Group One Winner 1200.

“She’s ready and I was going to take her down to Awapuni for the Listed race over 1400 metres, but she just got away on me a bit so I had to change plans and drop her back for this 1200 metre race.

“I’m really happy with her and she’s come up well. She’ll probably go to Tauranga after this and if she shows she’s worthy then we’ll look at the Easter.”

Illuminati has been an excellent servant of Foote’s stable, but all good things have to come to an end.

“They can only go around for so long and we’ve decided to put her on the market, we’ll probably put her in the Gold Coast broodmare sale in June,” he said.

Illuminati has fashioned the impressive strike rate of 10 wins from her 39 starts with a Listed victory to her credit in the Rotorua Stakes.

The seven-year-old has also been a multiple Group Three placegetter in the Winter Cup, the White Robe Lodge Handicap and in the Cuddle Stakes.

The versatile Keeper mare, who has been successful on all manner of tracks, hasn’t raced since October but she has trialled twice this month in preparation for her return to racing.

Maija Vance has been booked for the ride at Ellerslie, where Illuminati has twice been successful.