Bridgman Fields 5-Strong Arsenal

Waikato Times' Tim Ryan reports:

Te Akau Racing is in attack mode as the powerhouse stable launches an assault on the premier meeting at Hastings tomorrow, reports TIM RYAN.

Matamata trainer Jason Bridgman has some powerful weapons in his talented Te Akau Racing team heading to Hastings tomorrow, with classy mare Abidewithme spearheading his five-strong attack on the meeting.

The Redoute's Choice mare tackles the Gr I Livamol Classic off the back of an unplanned break of several weeks between runs.  Initially her spring programme included all three Hawke's Bay carnival Gr I events.

She claimed a start off the ballot in the first of them, the Makfi Stakes over 1400m and ran a slashing race to finish fourth behind I Do, Pussy O'Reilly and Pure Champion, but couldn't gain entry into the field for the middle leg, the 1600m Windsor Park Plate won by Pure Champion with I Do second.

Missing that run put Bridgman in the difficult position of preparing her to step up to the 2040m of the Livamol Classic on a recipe of varied trackwork.   If she features in the finish on Saturday it will be down to her trainer's efforts.

''We're happy with her trackwork in the time-frame and circumstances that have prevailed,'' Bridgman said. ''We've done the best we can to get her ready but it's probably not ideal going 2000m second-up.

''The way she is racing-wise and with her athleticism, she's a chance to get away with it. I always space her races and she does go her best races fresh.''

Tried over ground last campaign, Abidewithme had no luck when running seventh behind Lauren Tate in the Gr II Travis Stakes at Te Rapa and although only having a single trial and the one race in this campaign, Bridgman has kept her up to the mark on the training track.

''We worked her up for the Windsor Park Plate - so she had done the groundwork and we took her to Taupo last week for a good hit-out where she went a mile with a mate and that was a really good exercise.  We're as confident as we can be without getting that run into her at the mile and we're hopeful that there's a genuine tempo in Saturday's race so she can unleash her good finish.''

Bridgman's second black-type contender on Saturday is a Fastnet Rock colt he rates right up with the best 3-year-olds he has trained for Te Akau.  Rockfast takes on a powerful lineup in the Gr II DHL Hawke's Bay Guineas over 1400m after showing a devastating turn of foot fresh-up at Te Rapa for a decisive win over 1200m.

''He was really pleasing fresh-up and if he can settle kindly in the running he should be right in it on Saturday,'' Bridgman said.

''He's right up with the best 3-year-olds we've had and we couldn't be happier with him going into the race.''

Safely through Saturday's assignment, Rockfast will be set on a path to the NZ 2000 Guineas at Riccarton with Bridgman keen to try him beyond Saturday's 1400m.

Rounding out the Hastings team for Bridgman, all to be ridden by in-form Matthew Cameron, are Vive La Difference, Sir Darci and Wolfwhistle all taking on grade races and all afforded chances of being among the stake earners by their astute trainer.

He was pleasantly surprised with Choisir 3-year-old filly Vive La Difference fresh-up over 1200m at Te Rapa, the day Rockfast also won.

''It was a huge effort and took us a bit by surprise to see her do that over 1200. She's a real Oaks type but if she can be competitive on Saturday over 1400 she can head towards the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton.  Hopefully it will be a good day on Saturday and it would be good if we can race on a nice dead track."