By Dennis Ryan, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
A return to Trentham on Saturday is expected to bring out the best in Waimea Bay when she lines up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Taylor Property Plus Wellington Guineas (1600m).
The Roger James/Robert Wellwood-trained filly’s career-high performance was two starts ago when a short-head second to stablemate Fairy Dream in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes over the same 1600m trip at Trentham in mid-January.
After a win and a third placing in her only two previous starts, she blotted her copybook when second-last in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), fading over the final stages after being ridden forward from a wide gate to settle on the pace.
“The Waikato Guineas result was disappointing but I couldn’t be happier with how she’s freshened and developed since,” James said on Friday morning.
“She’s never been one to do a lot on the track, however in saying that her work has been more than adequate and after trotting her up before she got on the float this morning I’m confident she’s in the right order.
“The Te Akau filly (Origin Of Love) looks the one to beat but I’m confident that our filly is well up to the task too.”
James is also keenly anticipating the raceday debut of Sword Of State gelding High Goal at Tauherenikau on Sunday.
Long-time stable clients Ron and Judi Wanless, the owners also of Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Road To Paris, paid $400,000 for the handsome bay at last year’s National Sale and at this stage that’s looking like money well spent.
“He’s a gorgeous horse, everything he does tells you he’s definitely got something,” James said of the mid-December trial winner. “Trotting him up this morning he just floated over the ground, so he’s certainly one to be looking forward to.
“My only slight reservation is lining him up against older maidens on Sunday, especially when he gets only one kilogram off a three-year-old filly and three kilos off the boys.
“We paid up for him in the two-year-old race at Matamata on Sunday as well, but he drew an outside gate there and the far better draw at Tauherenikau made the decision for us.
“It’s a long way to go, but it worked for us sending another of our first starter two-year-olds, St Monica, down there a fortnight ago and she’s now in the Sires’ (Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) next week.”
James has confirmed autumn plans for New Zealand Derby winner Road To Paris, with next month’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) taking precedence over the Gr.1 Queensland Derby two months later.
“The Sydney Derby has a lot of appeal given timeframes and the travel it would have entailed if we had opted for Brisbane,” James said of the far from straightforward gelding.
“This way he can do all his serious work at home and fly in on the Tuesday ahead of the race (on April 4). He’ll be stabled at Randwick with John Thompson, who has kindly agreed to provide a workmate up until raceday.”
There’s a silver lining to the decision to run in the ATC Derby, with champion Hong Kong and former leading Sydney jockey Zac Purton engaged to ride him.
“Zac actually chased the ride, so we’re very happy to have him on board,” James said.
