3-Pronged Te Akau Shoots for 7th Guineas

The Informant reports:

Three runners will represent the powerful Te Akau Racing team in their quest for a seventh win in the Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday.

The tangerine and blue colours have been carried to victories in the classic by King's Chapel (2003), Darci Brahma (2005), Tell A Tale (2008), Rock 'N' Pop (2011), Xtravagant (2015) and Embellish last year.

This year they will line up last-start Sarten Memorial winner Sword Of Osman, Zacinto Stakes runner-up In A Twinkling and recent Ashburton maiden winner Publicist.

“We're pleased with all three of them,” trainer Jamie Richards told www.theinformant.co.nz today.

“It's all systems go with Sword Of Osman. He worked this morning - Opie came and galloped him and was very happy with how he felt. Now we just hope he can relax nicely and get a soft sectional at some point during the race, which will really help him run a strong mile (1600m).”

Sword Of Osman is due to travel to Christchurch on Wednesday.

“In A Twinkling and Publicist have been based in the South Island during the spring, which is a formula that's worked very well for us in the past,” Richards said. “They've settled in well down there and are happy horses.

“I thought In A Twinkling ran a very good race in the Zacinto. He didn't have a lot of luck early in the race, he got knocked around a bit, but he stuck it out very well to run second behind The Chosen One. He's an improving horse, still learning his craft, and there should be more improvement heading into Saturday.

“Publicist was very good at Ashburton the other day. He's going to need to improve on that to be competitive, but he's a talented horse and we think he deserves his chance.

“Opie will ride Sword Of Osman, with Shafiq Rusof on In A Twinkling and Jason Laking on Publicist.”

Sword Of Osman is the best-backed of the trio at $7, sharing third favouritism with Dawn Patrol. Publicist is at $21, with In A Twinkling at $31.

Madison County remains the clear $2.70 favourite, with his stablemate The Chosen One at $5. The filly Melt, who had been prominent in the market, has been withdrawn and is being saved for the 1000 Guineas a week later.

Meanwhile, the Te Akau team will also line up Swing Note in Saturday's $75,000 Listed Redwood Metropolitan Trophy over 2500 metres.

The four-year-old Encosta De Lago mare is a last-start Listed winner of the 2000-metre Spring Classic, and she is rated a $14 chance for the Gr. 3 New Zealand Cup on Saturday week.

“Shafiq will stay with her for the Metropolitan on Saturday,” Richards said. “She's trained on very well since her Listed win late last month. She seems to have strengthened up quite a lot this time in, which will be a big help when we get her out over these longer trips.”