Richards Shoots for 20th Group 1

The Informant reports:

Savy
Yong Blonk and Shezathinka will give Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards two
strong chances at a Group One milestone at Trentham this Saturday.

Still
in only his fourth full season of training and his first in sole charge
of the stable, Richards has won 19 Group One races - six with Melody
Belle, three with Gingernuts, two with Xtravagant and one each with
Risque, Heroic Valour, Hall Of Fame, Embellish, Age Of Fire, Sword Of
Osman, Avantage and Yourdeel.

He played a starring role at
Ellerslie last Saturday as Yourdeel and Melody Belle delivered a
big-race double in the Sistema Stakes and Bonecrusher New Zealand
Stakes.

Richards will saddle Savy Yong Blonk and Shezathinka as
$10 and $12 chances respectively in Saturday's $400,000 Gr. 1 Al Basti
Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks.

Savy Yong Blonk won two races
earlier in her campaign and produced a big finish for a last-start third
in the Gr. 3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie, while the maiden filly
Shezathinka burst into Oaks contention with a last-start second in the
Gr. 2 Lowland Stakes at Hastings. She finished in between the two Oaks
favourites, Queen Of Diamonds ($3.20) and Imelda Mary ($4).

“We
were very pleased with Savy Yong Blonk at Ellerslie,” Richards said. “I
thought she could have switched off when she was knocked around a bit at
the top of the straight, but instead she kept up a strong gallop and
found the line very well. It was a very good effort.

“She's come
through it well and is making good progress towards Saturday. She's been
in work a while and is very fit, so hasn't needed to do a lot. Michael
McNab will ride her in a final gallop tomorrow morning, and he'll be
aboard on Saturday.

“Shezathinka is a high-class filly. She's
still a maiden, but she really proved herself against some of the best
fillies around with her Lowland placing. I'm disappointed that she
hasn't won a race before now, but she's been a victim of circumstances
and has had a bit of bad luck.

“She's going into the race in great order and will be ridden by Chris Johnson.”

Richards
will also saddle impressive last-start winner Sasso Corbaro in the
Listed Gavelhouse.com Lightning Handicap, while Southland Guineas winner
Weaponry is a possible runner in the Gr. 2 Norwood Family Wellington
Guineas.

On the other side of the Tasman, the brilliant Karaka
Million winner Probabeel will line up in the Gr. 3 Magic Night Stakes at
Rosehill. She will travel to Sydney later today.

“She's about to be loaded on to a truck,” Richards said. “I'm looking at her right now and she's in really good order.”

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