Singletary chasing turnaround in Guineas
A recent trial success has given Andrew Campbell confidence that his promising three-year-old Singletary (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) is back on track.
The Otaki trainer had to regroup following a disappointing end to the son of Satono Aladdin’s juvenile campaign and is looking for redemption in the Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas (1200m) on Saturday.
Singletary came in for strong support on his home track in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) at the end of July, but had little luck in the running and finished out of the frame.
“He started favourite and was caught three wide all the way and over-raced,” Campbell said.
“It was disappointing on face value, but it may have also been the track, it was quite holding that day.”
Singeltary has been freshened and produced an encouraging performance earlier this month at Foxton where he led all the way and was untouched to claim his 1000m heat by three lengths.
“He won easily enough so we’ll roll the dice again and have a crack at the Guineas, he’s better than his last start,” Campbell said.
Singletary was given four trials last term before he headed north to make his debut and came from last to finish runner-up.
“We had to keep barrier trialling him because he was a bit of a barrier rogue in his earlier days and then his first run at Ellerslie was huge,” Campbell said.
“The track was a bit firm for him next time at his second start, so we tipped him out after that.
“He’s pretty ready again now and I would be disappointed if he didn’t go a good one.”
A bold showing from Singletary at the weekend will add momentum to longer range plans for a tilt at the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).
“We’ll get Saturday out of the way and then hopefully all roads will lead to the South Island, if he shows he’s up to it,” Campbell said.
He will be chasing his second Wanganui Guineas success after tasting winning the 2017 edition.
“Waldorf won the Ryder and then the Guineas, he bolted in, and we sold him to Hong Kong. He was a pretty fair horse,” Campbell said.
The Highly Recommended gelding went on to win a further six races there and more than $1.5 million from Tony Cruz’s stable.
Campbell will also be hoping for improvement from Perfect Pete (Edith Bull Memorial, 1700m) and Cocobill (Manawatu BMW, 1400m) at Sunday’s Awapuni meeting on the all-weather course.
The former has placed at his two most recent outings while Cocobill tailed the field home at Hastings last weekend.
“Perfect Pete will back up from a last-start third at Hawera and Cocobill ran last on Saturday and was awful, so we’ll try him on the synthetic,” Campbell said.
Meanwhile, stable favourite Riverplate came through his unplaced run in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) in good order.
“We’ll just lower our sights and try and win a couple more open handicaps with the old boy, he’s been great and everybody loves him,” Campbell said.
“At the first sign of him not looking like he’s up to scratch, he’ll be retired but he’s loving life at the moment.”
