Kingsclere Stables are hoping to sing a winning tune at Pukekohe Park on Boxing Day, with their talented three-year-old trio headed by Orchestral in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).
Orchestral indicated her promise early as a two-year-old, scorching into second on debut ahead of Eight Carat favourite Molly Bloom, before breaking maiden status smartly in May.
The daughter of Savabeel possibly wasn’t appreciative of the Soft conditions at Hawke’s Bay first-up in her three-year-old season, but a three-month hiatus seemed to do wonders as she narrowly missed causing a minor upset in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) on December 9, going down by a nose to Lupo Solitario with an impressive 32.86 last 600m.
“I really like the filly, but she has got to measure up to the best company yet,” co-trainer Roger James told TAB NZ.
“First-up her sectionals were very impressive. Having said that, there is a lot of form in that field that she is meeting on Boxing Day, so she is going to have to be at the top of her game, and have a bit of luck on her side as well.
“I haven’t done a lot with her since, but you would think after a spell that there would be natural improvement.
“She hasn’t met any of those horses bar Molly Bloom first-up, and there was only a nose between them.
“1600m at this stage of her prep will be ideal for her. I haven’t seen her over further than what she did the other day (Bonecrusher Stakes), so you learn as you go at this stage.”
Orchestral will have the services of Opie Bosson in the saddle, the top hoop all too familiar with winning the fillies’ feature, having won recent editions in 2020 and 2021 with Te Akau’s Amarelihna and Belle En Rouge.
James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood, hasn’t been short of three-year-old talent this season, and the Cambridge trainers will also be well represented in the Gr.2 Shaw’s Wire Ropes Auckland Guineas (1400m) with Zabmanzor and December.
An exciting Almanzor colt, Zabmanzor built to a tidy maiden victory in November, and made a bold statement in just his fourth race-day appearance with an electric four-length demolition in the Gr.3 Elsdon Park Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki last-start.
December has taken a different route to Pukekohe than his stablemate but has been equally effective remaining unbeaten in his two career attempts over 1200m at Tauranga and Wanganui.
Craig Grylls will partner the Shamexpress gelding in his step-up in grade and distance, while regular rider Masa Hashizume will guide Zabmanzor in the $225,000 feature.
“Zabmanzor was impressive (at Otaki), I don’t know the quality of the field that he beat, it is certainly not up to the quality of the field he is going to meet on Boxing Day,” James said.
“December has won two trials and two races. He is a laidback customer that doesn’t tell you much in his work, but he couldn’t have done any more than he has done at this stage.”
James is hopeful the pair will progress onwards to the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m) on January 13, while Zabmanzor holds future nominations in both the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m).
“They are both in good order. We would like to think that one or both of them would get into the Levin Classic, but we are keeping that open,” he said.