Ben Foote enjoyed an outstanding first session at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale and he’s got the firepower to continue the party at Pukekohe.
The Cambridge-based horseman celebrated a 100 percent clearance rate at Karaka on Wednesday and on Saturday will look to top sprinter Babylon Berlin to continue her winning roll.
“We sold six out of six through Ohukia Lodge, so I was pretty happy and got $300,000 for one by Frosted,” Foote said.
The colt represented a memorable pinhook after he was bought for A$40,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and was secured this week by Hong Kong interests.
He is out of the Smart Missile mare Launched, who is a half-sister to the multiple Group Two winner and Group One placegetter Tally.
The weekend focus for Foote, who trains with son Ryan, will be on stable star Babylon Berlin’s tilt at the Gr.3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1200m).
The All Too Hard mare successfully resumed earlier this month in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa where she capitalised on a tidy run in the trail to account for the well-performed Maven Belle.
“I was pretty stoked, she’s never raced in behind them like that before, so it was really good to see,” Foote said.
“Even though she was on the fresh side, she took a sit and that was very pleasing going forward.”
Foote’s confidence has been further boosted by the engagement of champion jockey Opie Bosson.
“I’ve got the best on her on Saturday, so I don’t really have to tell him what to do,” he said.
Babylon Berlin will make her final race day appearance before attempting a deserved Group One victory in the Railway Stakes (1200m), a race she has twice placed in as well as the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and the Gr.1 Waikato Sprint (1400m).
“There isn’t anything for her so it will be a trial and exhibition gallops to get her ready,” Foote said.
He is also looking forward to seeing Nancy She Wrote back in action when she makes her return in the HR Fisken & Son Handicap (1600m).
The lightly raced daughter of Wrote was spelled after winning once from five appearances last season and came off her maiden victory at Hastings to finish fifth in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.
“She had a little spur on a fetlock that could have been there before she raced,” Foote said.
“We had that tidied up and she’s come back a treat. I’ve been super happy with her trials as well.”