Hall of Fame Waikato Guineas' Favourite

The TAB reports:

Hall Of Fame displayed an amazing turn of foot to win the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham last start before digging deep to hold out the likes of Savile Row and Jon Snow in a close photo.

In the absence of those two rivals, Hall Of Fame will take centre stage in the Group 2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday as the next phase is completed in his build-up to the New Zealand Derby next month.

He is easily the highest rated three-year-old in the $100,000 contest, and rightly so, after notching up five wins and two seconds from his nine starts for Te Akau Stud training partners Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.

Brad Taylor, Te Akau's racing manager, was at Hastings races on Wednesday and said Hall Of Fame has come through his narrow Levin Classic victory in top order, and the Te Akau team was delighted with the colt's gallop at Matamata on Tuesday.

"Opie Bosson came south to ride him in a workout with race rival Shocking Luck and they ran a very nice 1200 metres together. It was a pleasing gallop, and we're pretty happy with him ," he said.

"The barrier draw (10) isn't what we ordered, so Hall Of Fame might be ridden back, and see if he runs out the distance (2000m) that way. No doubt there will be a lot of discussion on the matter."

As well as giving every indication that Hall Of Fame is the horse to beat, Taylor built a case for stablemate Shocking Luck.

"He's a good staying type in the making, and not out of contention on Saturday by any means," he said.

"His part-owner Terry Archer is also a part-owner of top filly La Diosa. It would be nice too see the gelding get some of Saturday's money."

Selections

1 Hall Of Fame, 3 Wyndspelle, 7 Fine Taylor, 4 Highlad. LONGSHOT: 2 Lincoln Blue