Te Akau Racing’s unbeaten filly Captured By Love is set to face her sternest test to date when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
Ascend The Throne scored his first stakes scalp when triumphant in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, and the Savabeel gelding will look to double his Guineas haul when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday.
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson believe Campionessa has turned into the perfect package ahead of the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.
“Cu Chulainn had good South Island form as a two-year-old so it will be good to see him kick back off at the races as a three-year-old. I am sure he is capable of running a bold, cheeky race first-up.”
Exciting filly Puketiro continued her fine run of form at Te Rapa on Saturday when comfortably accounting for her opposition in the Tuatahi First Fibre 3YO (1200m).
Less than a neck separated the first three home in Saturday’s Listed Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m), with race favourite Fierce Flight getting in the deciding stride to take out the feature event on the day at Hastings.
Backers of New Zealand sprinter Imperatriz were almost counting their winnings with 100m to go in the Gr.1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on Saturday, but it was not to be.
