Risque Caps Incredible Spring for Trio

The Informant's Dennis Ryan reports:

As if it needed to get any better, the incredible spring being experienced by the trainer-jockey combination of Stephen Autridge, Jamie Richards and Matt Cameron has been capped by a storming win to Risque in the Gr. 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

Last Saturday Xtravagant scored a brilliant win for the trio in the Gr. 1 Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas and in today's three-year-old filly feature Risque likewise gave nothing else an excuse with a clear-cut win.

That completed a four-win streak for Autridge and Richards on today's programme, while it meant a treble for Cameron. Autridge and Richards, who became partners for Te Akau Racing only last May, now top the trainers' premiership with 31 wins, while Cameron is in second place on the jockeys' table in his quest for a premiership hat-trick.

Whereas Cameron scored on Xtravagant last Saturday with a heady front-running ride, the tactics were quite different today as he settled Risque near the rear in the 13-horse field. While the little-fancied Dezzies Dream made the running, Cameron was quite content to sit back before making his move around the turn.

Dezzies Dream was still clear with 300 metres to run, but just as an upset looked on the cards for Invercargill trainer Sabin Kirkland and co-owner, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, Risque loomed out in the centre of the track and set about reeling in the tearaway.

The bay filly hit the lead only 100 metres form the finish but had such a head of steam up that she crossed the line a length and a quarter clear. Fellow Matamata-trained filly Strada Cavallo was also doing her best work late through the inside to claim second a length and a half ahead of Dezzies Dream.

Special Memories, a stablemate of the winner, was a gallant fourth after racing ungenerously through the middle stages, while Let Her Rip fought on for fifth, followed in by Mime who had been right in the firing line on the turn.

The most notable disappointments were the two favourites, Serena Miss and No More Tears, who were well out of the placings. Serena Miss had a slightly chequered run midfield on the inside but was close enough on the home turn, only to fade over the final 300 metres. No More Tears did it tough three-wide in the running and also had nothing to offer when it counted and finished ninth, one place ahead of Serena Miss.

Risque is a daughter of Darci Brahma, one of five horses to win the New Zealand 2000 Guineas for Te Akau, and races in the blue and white colours of her breeder, Dick Karreman's The Oaks Stud. The same colours were carried to victory in the 1000 Guineas 10 years ago by the outstanding galloper Seachange.

“Ten years after that win this is a huge thrill for Darci Brahma and Dick Karreman,” said The Oaks general manager Rick Williams.

Stephen Autridge, who had been successful with Taatletail in 2003 when training in partnership with Graeme Rogerson, admitted to some nervousness heading into the 2015 edition.

“After we won those two races on the first day and then won the only three we had runners in earlier today, I was starting to wonder if we might have used up all our luck,” Autridge told www.theinformant.co.nz.

“She's a good filly this though. She can be a bit tricky when you tuck her in behind. She's timid and she can back right off.

“Matt did a good job again though, he got her up into the right spot and she delivered. The way she rounded them up she could do it again in the Oaks, but we'll enjoy today first.

“Last week I headed straight home after Xtravagant's race and I was mucking out boxes at six o'clock on Sunday morning. I'll be home tonight again, but I figure a few beers will be in order and I think I'll skip the early shift tomorrow.”