Quality colt out of play for NZ 2000 Guineas

Te Akau Racing’s hopes in next Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) have suffered a blow following the withdrawal of their leading contender System Of Play.

The Ole Kirk colt had attracted plenty of admirers after winning his first two starts but was handed his first defeat when sixth in last week’s Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Scans this week revealed a bone chip in his leg, which has ruled him out of the 2000 Guineas, and he is set to undergo surgery next Monday.

“It is certainly not a game for the faint-hearted,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the colt in partnership with Mark Walker.

“It is extremely disappointing for everyone – the ownership group and the team at home. I am disappointed for the horse as well. He seemed to have initially come through the run really well and we were working him up to head down, but at routine checks post a gallop on Thursday he wasn’t quite 100 percent.

“We had him checked out and it was unfortunate news. He has basically got a little fragment off the front of his pastern. We have got the horse’s best interests at heart, and he is off for surgery on Monday, and we are hoping he can bounce back.”

Bergerson is hoping the stable’s fortunes can turn around on Saturday, where they have two leading contenders in the the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in Asturia and Sweetest Thing.

“It is a game of ups and downs, and you have just got to roll with the punches,” Bergerson said. “We are hoping we can have a change in fortune in terms of the other runners tomorrow.

“It is fantastic to have two really good chances (in the 1000 Guineas) and hopefully they run really well. It’s a great opportunity at Group One level for them.”

Asturia has been the hype filly of the spring, having won two of her three starts to date, including the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie last month, and was runner-up behind Old Fashioned in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).

Her ownership group turned down a substantial offer for her last week, and they are hoping she can reward them with an elite-level result this weekend.

“She just continues to get better,” Bergerson said. “She keeps going from strength-to-strength and touchwood she has ticked most of the boxes now and she is down there and travelled well.

“I think the Riccarton mile will really suit her. She has drawn a nice gate (3), and we are hoping she can get a trouble-free passage tomorrow, and if she does she should perform really well, and looks a strong chance for the team.”

A Group One performer as a juvenile, Sweetest Thing joined the stable at the start of the season and won first-up in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) before running fourth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m).

Owned by Glentree Racing, the intention is for Sweetest Thing to race in Australia at some point, but Bergerson said her performance on Saturday will dictate when that will be.

“If she was to perform well, there is an NZB Kiwi ($4.5 million, 1500m) as well and races like that in the autumn,” Bergerson said. “We think, in time, she will even get up over a bit more ground.

“We will get through Saturday and work it out. Eventually she will end up in Melbourne, but we are not sure whether that is post-Saturday or a bit further down the track.”

Asturia currently heads the TAB’s market for the 1000 Guineas at $2, with Sweetest Thing sitting at $15.

The stable will also be chasing stakes success at Riccarton with Court Of Appeal in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2590m), Charmrose and Trobriand in the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m), and Dream Of The Moon in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

“Court Of Appeal is going really well,” Bergerson said. “I think she has had the right prep to head into a New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m). We have got the miles into her legs, and I think up to nearly 2600m is going to be ideal on Saturday, and then hopefully onto the New Zealand Cup.

“I love the way she ran that last 100m through the line in the Spring Classic (Listed, 2000m).

“I think the two sprinters are good chances. Platinum Attack is the benchmark and certainly deserves his weight and still looks very tough to beat.

“They sneak in with nice, light weights. Trobriand hasn’t really had the rub of the green, but Charmrose was really good last time, and we kept her nice and fresh for the 1000m.”

The stable will also be chasing stakes success at Te Rapa on Saturday, where King’s English will contest the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m).

While looking forward to the Snitzel entire stepping up to stakes grade again following his first-up win over 1000m at Taupo last month, Bergerson said the weather will play a key part on Saturday.

“It will be interesting to see what the weather does,” he said. “I think it will play a massive effect on the whole meeting. We have got some nice chances up here.

“King’s English certainly deserves his opportunity. I thought his fresh-up win was really good, and he has had a bit of time post that run, which I think is the formula with him. He normally runs his best races when we space them.

“He is a very talented horse on his day. He sneaks in with a nice, light weight (53kg) but he does need to step up to that stakes grade. It is a very good field, but I am excited for his opportunity.”