Smart mare progressing well toward stakes goal

Tony Pike’s mission to secure black type for Astoria Brooke (NZ) (American Pharoah) will gain further momentum at Ellerslie this weekend.

The Cambridge trainer believes Saturday’s trackside.co.nz (1400m) will set the lightly raced four-year-old up well for a loftier target later this month.

The daughter of American Pharoah is out of the Listed winner Astor and further stakes performance will prove invaluable for breeder-owner Trelawney Stud.

“We want to get some black type for her, so the plan is that if she runs well then she’ll head for the Tauranga Classic (Listed, 1400m) on June 27,” Pike said.

Astoria Brooke has four victories from 14 appearances to her credit and produced an encouraging last-start effort when finishing solidly for fourth over 1300m.

“It was her first start for the stable and I was really pleased with her run,” Pike said.

“She had to go back from a wide gate and hit the line really well late, so 1400m will be ideal and off the minimum (54kg), she’s a genuine chance.

“She’s going well and has a sticky gate (seven) again and will probably go back, but in a small field she won’t be too far off them.”

Michael McNab will partner Astoria Brooke and his brother Sam will be aboard resuming race rival Agera.

“He’s fresh-up and has two good barrier trials, but with 60kg he’s likely to need the run and as long as he goes a good, even race then we’ll be happy,” Pike said.

At the other end of the age scale, the stable will be represented by first-starters Pellargo and Intan in The Lawn Shed 2YO (1200m).

“Pellargo took a bit longer than we thought, he showed ability earlier in the season but was a bit weak and he’s come back really well this prep,” Pike said.

“I thought his trial at Taupo was excellent, he doesn’t have a lot of gate speed and hit the line well so 1200m at Ellerslie should suit him. He’ll get back a touch and if they overdo it in front he’ll be closing hard.”

Masa Hashizume will partner the Better Than Ready youngster with Michael McNab to ride Shamexpress filly Intan.

“She’s not very big but she was impressive at the trials at Avondale. Because she’s lighter framed, we didn’t want to trial her again and she was professional enough,” Pike said.

“It won’t be easy going to Ellerslie off the back of one trial, but she’ll put herself in the race and she’ll be a chance if she does everything right.”

Pike will also have the honest Ashoka in the Myracehorse Handicap (1200m), with George Rooke aboard and Corentin Berge will guide Del Inquent’s fortunes in the Gold Warehouse Handicap (2100m).

“Ashoka is a very genuine horse and just got bogged down (when fourth) at Hawke’s Bay, I almost scratched him and probably should have,” he said.

“He travelled up well and when he came off the bridle, he couldn’t pick his feet out of the ground and back to Ellerslie, it looks an ideal race for him.”

Del Inquent broke his maiden at Matamata before a last-start sixth at New Plymouth.

“He got caught wide on a firmer track and, again, he’s back to Ellerslie where he has raced really well before,” Pike said.

“He’s drawn to get a nice run behind the leaders, and it looks like a race that sets up well for him so he’s a good each way chance.”