Four Grp 1 Sires' Produce Runners, Big Te Akau Weekend

Top billing among the Autridge-Richards quartet is shared by two stakes-winning fillies - the last-start Karaka Million winner Melody Belle, and the Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes winner and Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes placegetter Gold Fever.

Melody Belle missed a start in the Sistema Stakes because she “wasn't quite right”, but Autridge reported to The Informant this week that the Commands filly has quickly bounced back to 100 per cent. She won a trial at her home track of Matamata on March 21.

“She was outstanding in her trial here at Matamata last week,” he said. “We're very happy with her condition now and her work has been very good leading into the race on Saturday. We're hoping that she'll run very well.”

Gold Fever's Sistema Stakes performance was full of merit, finishing a game third after almost being knocked off her feet inside the first 100 metres of the race.

“She was interfered with quite badly, so it was a very brave effort that day,” Autridge said. “She's come through the race well and her work has been good too.”

Autridge believes that heading to Awapuni for tomorrow's race will play to Gold Fever's strengths.

“At this stage we think she's a much better filly racing left-handed,” he said.

Gold Fever has had four starts on left-handed tracks for three wins and a placing, while she has been placed in both of her two right-handed starts.

The third Autridge-Richards runner is the Stratum colt Summer Monsoon, who has had a win and two placings from his four starts. His most recent outing was in the Listed Reid and Harrison Slipper at Matamata, where he found the line strongly for second and was gaining ground on the winner Summer Passage.

“The way he found the line at Matamata was pretty encouraging for stepping up to 1400 metres,” Autridge said. “He's placed in a trial since then, and his work last Saturday morning was particularly good. He's come on very nicely.”

The quartet is rounded out by the Encosta De Lago filly Swing Note, who was the first ballot and has made the field with a scratching. She has yet to win a race but has finished fourth, third and second in her three appearances.

“She's still a maiden but she's got plenty of ability,” Autridge said. “We believe she deserves an opportunity in a race like this. She's another runner who will be suited by the extra distance.”

With Opie Bosson in Sydney to ride Gingernuts and Cameron Lammas suspended, the Te Akau team have had to look beyond their normal pool of riders for tomorrow's race. Regular Te Akau rider Michael McNab will take the mount on Melody Belle, with Craig Grylls on Gold Fever, Jason Waddell on Summer Monsoon and Johnathan Parkes on Swing Note.