Pacy filly chasing early Group honours

Speed merchant Summer Schemer (Dirty Work) will tackle the first leg of a black-type double when she kicks off her three-year-old season at Ruakaka on Saturday.

The Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) candidate has been based in the north for her lead-up, as has maiden hope Russian Prime, who is a potential Classic contender.

Meanwhile, stablemate Dubawi Diva’s performance in Sunday’s Listed Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic (1200m) at Taupo will dictate which spring path she will follow.

“Summer Schemer’s very thick winded and had a hell of a blow after trialling so I would expect her to be a bit vulnerable if she’s softened up,” said Shaune Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray.

“She will be better for it and be in peak order for the Sunline Vase (Gr.3, 1200m), which is three weeks away back at Ellerslie, where she won her debut.

“Whether Dubawi Diva’s up to the class, we’ve got to find out and they couldn’t have compiled a better field. She’ll certainly be right on the pace, and we’ll find out if she’s up to the other fillies.”

Summer Schemer has showed an abundance of gate speed to lead in all three of her appearances and has the draw to continue that trend.

“Barrier (two) is going to help her, we’re obviously up at Ruakaka for the week with a small team like we do every year for this meeting, and the rail will come back from three metres to the true position,” Ritchie said.

“You would think, certainly earlier in the day, it will create a fast lane and she’s an on-pace runner with gate speed.”

Summer Schemer hasn’t raced since the daughter of Dirty Work was unplaced in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

“At this point, we suspect she is vulnerable at 1400m and has that gate speed and build to be a sprinter, so we’ll keep her at 1200m unless she tells us different,” Ritchie said.

“She also got an off track that day and she needs a reasonable deck.”

Ritchie also has high hopes for Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) hopeful Russian Prime in the opening event, the Brett Sawyers @ Ray White Bream Bay Maiden (1200m).

The daughter of Russian Revolution finished runner-up on debut at Ellerslie behind subsequent Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) winner Back Of The Bus.

“She drew wide and really attacked the line, she’s a filly we see as potentially getting to Christchurch,” Ritchie said.

“She’s been up here and thrived, on the flip side she’s drawn out at nine so she’s going to need a little bit of luck. She’s got a fair bit of class and won’t be a maiden for long.”

Meanwhile, Dubawi Diva will decide her own fate at Taupo where she faces a rise in class.

“The barrier (two) is great for her and 1100m around that track will suit her,” Ritchie said.

“We need to know where she sits, so we’ll get a good read on her this time. She’s had those two runs and is fit.”

The King Of Comedy filly won first time out at Matamata and then tailed the field home in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m).

“She was a forgive, she simply didn’t handle the ground and like Summer Schemer needs a good deck,” Ritchie said.