While all eyes were on Molly Bloom on Boxing Day at Pukekohe, stablemate Grail Seeker put on a performance worthy of near-favouritism in Saturday’s Gr.3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.
Grail Seeker has established a solid record in her brief career to date, with five top-four finishes in as many starts, including a runner-up finish in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) before a game third behind her Group One-winning stablemate in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day.
The daughter of Iffraaj will be the sole Wexford Stables representative in the feature fillies’ event on Wellington Cup Day, and co-trainer Andrew Scott is hopeful she will have her time in the spotlight.
“She certainly brings a strong form line, and her work leading into this race has been the best of her preparation thus far,” he said.
“We’re hopeful she can produce a strong performance, she’s a lovely filly with a good bit of scope, and she’s travelled down well.
“Obviously Molly Bloom has been there, done it, and won well, but this filly is still growing in confidence. Every race she’s gotten that little bit better, and we’re hoping that will be reflected on Saturday.”
Scott’s faith in the filly has been shared with punters, who have punted Grail Seeker from $4.80 into $3.60 on the TAB Fixed Odds, snapping at the heels of a key race-rival in Sudbina at $3.30.
Joe Doyle, who has been a frequent figure in Wexford’s success this season, retains the ride aboard Grail Seeker, while he will also partner the promising Tanganyika at Pukekohe on Sunday.
Tanganyika will contest a competitive Join The BGP Punters Club Via TAB.CO.NZ 1400, a first step into open three-year-old company after two victories were accompanied by a third placing behind subsequent winners Snazzytavi and Fortunate Son.
Lance O’Sullivan, who co-trains the Ace High gelding in partnership with Scott, has been impressed with the gelding’s progression over his three raceday appearances.
“This is certainly his toughest assignment to date, but he just keeps stepping up and has done a really good job. He’s a really nice, progressive horse,” he said.
“He’s still pretty immature, so we’re just taking it one race at a time with him. When he’s gone as far as he wants to this preparation, we’ll give him a let-up.”
Later on the eight-race card at Pukekohe, O’Sullivan had difficulty in separating Neighbourhood and Sharp Dressed Man in the Ellerslie Events 1400, the latter having shown significant improvement last-start to break maiden status at just his second attempt.
“There’s not a lot between them. Neighbourhood will be helped by the inside gate (1), and any easing in the ground would be a great assist to him,” he said.
“Sharp Dressed Man has just had the two runs to date and has to learn to do things a little bit better, but he certainly shows he has above-average ability.”