All Roads Lead to Riccarton

The Informant reports:

A quinella in Saturday's Zacinto at Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial with Special Memories and Risque has added further ammunition to the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards stable assault on the Gr. 1 1000 Guineas in November.

The Matamata trainers have 11 fillies nominated for the Riccarton classic, with Autridge hoping to have at least four to five runners in the event.

“We have a lovely stable full of quality three-year-olds and we do expect to have a number of them on hand at Riccarton for those big races,” he said.

“You only get one shot at those features, so it would be nice to think we have a number of realistic winning chances going into a race like the 1000 Guineas.”

Autridge was delighted to strike the quinella on Saturday, with both of his runners expected to take improvement out of the race.

“I was very happy with both fillies as they will be better for the race,” he said. â€œSpecial Memories didn't have the best form on paper, but she has needed a firm track to show her best and she got that. Once she struck a track she likes, the lift in performance was what we were expecting.

“Risque didn't have a lot of luck as David (Walsh) was wide early on and then had trouble getting a run when he needed it. I think she also took him by surprise a little as there was more in the tank at the end than he was expecting.”

The Te Akau team has enjoyed great success using Riccarton's Guineas trial as a classic springboard. Rock 'N' Pop finished second to Planet Rock in this race in 2011 before winning the 2000 Guineas.

With Richards in charge of the Riccarton team yesterday, Autridge was at Hastings with another Guineas contender in Love Triangle who produced an eye-catching finish behind the placegetters in the Gr. 3 Gold Trail Stakes.

“She had a lovely run in the race but couldn't get off the fence when she needed to be going forward,” he said. â€œWhen she did get clear air she rocketed home and I think the step to 1600 metres will be perfect for her.”

Autridge was also delighted with the run of Scrutinize to finish second in the Gr. 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas. The good-looking son of multiple Group One winner Legs will now head straight to the Gr. 1 2000 Guineas on November 7 as the current $5 favourite on the TAB's fixed-odds market.