Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie has sharpened his blade with the aim of getting a slice of the action on both sides of the Tasman this weekend.
Ritchie will produce talented filly Chop Chop in Saturday's Gr.2 A$175,000 Doomben Roses (2000m) as a lead-up to the Gr.1 A$400,000 Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
Closer to home, reliable mare Goldminer tackles the $25,000 Legacy Lodge 1400 at Te Rapa, while unbeaten filly Regatta contests the $15,000 Visit teakau.com 1200 on the same card.
A winner of two of her nine starts as well as finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa and fifth in the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (2000m) at Hastings, Guillotine filly Chop Chop again has the services of Brisbane jockey Ric McMahon.
He has been aboard for her last two starts for a fourth placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham and fifth in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m).
Ritchie has added blinkers as he shoots for a better result on Saturday.
“I thought her first run over in the Gold Coast Bracelet was a pass mark," Ritchie said.
"She hit a flat spot from the 800 [metres] to the 500 and that particular period of the race worries me a little. One or two got past her and she got left a little flat-footed.
“We’ve elected to put blinkers on her this weekend and we’re hoping for the desired result so we hold our ground during that period and she finishes the race off as well as we know she can. We’d like to see the horse race a little better this weekend to justify a spot in the Oaks.”
Most Australian bookmakers have Chop Chop as a $26 outsider, but Ritchie has faith that she can prove competitive, with barrier seven viewed as a favourable starting spot.
“It’s a lovely gate. She’ll start from six if the emergency comes out and that should give Ric a few options," he said.
"She’s been a filly that can race handy if we’ve wanted her to and I see no reason to give them a head start. There’s some nice fillies in the race but if she can get a nice trail in the race in fourth, fifth, sixth, she’ll get the chance to show her best.”
Ritchie has a team of four campaigning in Brisbane and was most buoyed by New Zealand Derby-placed Glorious Lad's effort for third in last weekend's Gr. 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben.
“It was a nice run first-up and he’s such a dependable horse to take to run a great race for everybody. He’s a relaxing horse to take to the races," Ritchie said.
"He’s pulled up terrific. He’s on track for the Grand Prix and then the (Queensland) Derby. There’s a little question mark about the mile-and-a-half (2400m) of the Derby, but certainly the 2200m is a gettable trip for him if he draws nicely. If he draws wide perhaps we’ll try riding him cold but he’s the sort of horse that always runs a great honest race."
