Gold Fever on Trial for Breeders

The Informant reports:

Gold Fever is a half-sister to the winner of last year's Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes, and a strong showing in tomorrow's (Saturday) Race a Horse With Te Akau 2YO at Te Rapa will earn her the chance to follow in those footsteps.

Managed by tomorrow's race sponsors Te Akau Racing and trained by Karaka Million winners Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Gold Fever has picked up a win and two placings in her three starts to date.

The daughter of Savabeel won on debut at this course in November, then ran third at Awapuni and third again in the Gr. 3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie - less than a length behind Hasahalo and Gift Of Power.

“She's been doing really well over the last few weeks,” Autridge told The Informant. “She's jumping out of her skin at the moment.

“We're expecting her to go her normal honest race on Saturday.”

Gold Fever has drawn gate four in the 13-horse field and will be ridden by Cameron Lammas.

“If she runs well enough on Saturday, she'll carry on to the Matamata Breeders' Stakes a couple of weeks after that,” Autridge said.

Gold Rush is out of the stakes-winning Oratorio mare Gold Rocks, who is the dam of three winners from three foals to race. One of those is the year-older Gold Rush, by So You Think. Trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott, she edged out the Autridge-Richards runner Sassy 'N' Smart to win the Matamata feature 12 months ago.

There may be only two winners in tomorrow's field at Te Rapa - the other being the last-start Te Rapa winner Caesour's Dream - but there is plenty of race and trial form among the remainder of the field.