Last start stakes winner One Kiss will be looking to stamp her mark ahead of next month’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) when she lines-up at Ashburton on Saturday.
The Tivaci filly impressed when winning the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) by three-quarters of a length at Riccarton last month and trainer Mark Walker is hoping for a repeat performance this weekend.
One Kiss has drawn barrier six in the nine-horse Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) and Walker believes she is on song for this weekend after an exhibition gallop last week.
“We galloped her last Friday at Timaru in-between races and we were happy with her,” Walker said.
“She is going to eat up 1400m and 1600m going forward that is for sure.”
While One Kiss is destined for the 1000 Guineas next month, stablemate and race rival I Choose You is not.
The I Am Invincible filly had a pleasing juvenile season, placing in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m),
She resumed with a fifth placing in the Canterbury Belle Stakes and Walker is looking forward to seeing how she will perform over 1400m for the first time this weekend.
“She is by I Am Invincible so it is a bit of a question mark whether she can get 1400m, but we will give it a go anyway,” he said.
“It is a smallish field and she has got a good draw (2), so if she is going to get it, she will get it in this field.”
Te Akau’s southern stable is set to be bolstered in the coming weeks as they prepare for New Zealand Cup week next month.
“We have got 18 down there at the moment. It will depend what happens at Te Rapa next week as to what else will travel,” Walker said.
Further north on Saturday, Prise De Fer will be vying to secure his first win at elite-level in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings.
The Savabeel seven-year-old has been placed on five occasions at Group One level, including last year’s Livamol Classic, and Walker his hoping leading jockey Opie Bosson can work his magic from barrier nine this weekend.
“It is not a standout field, he is in with a chance, but if they get all of that rain it is going to be potluck,” Walker said.