Te Akau Guineas' Candidates on Trial

The NZ Racing Desk reports:

Last week it was Windborne's turn, and now it's time for Matamata trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards' fellow leading Guineas candidates to shine.

A Listed win in the New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes elevated Darci Brahma filly Windborne to joint $7 second favouritism for the Gr. 1 1000 Guineas on November 14.

She shares that price with her stablemate Love Triangle, an impressive Ruakaka debut winner who clashes with ruling $5 Guineas favourite Serious Satire in Saturday's Gr. 3 Windsor Park/Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings.

“She's gone the right way since that win," Autridge said of Love Triangle. "She's improved and you can see that in her coat.

“We've benefited from the meeting being put off a fortnight ago. She's got a bit more to learn, but the ability is all there.”

Autridge and Richards also have $10 equal 2000 Guineas second favourite Scrutinize (main picture) in action in the Gr. 2 Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas, with the stable expecting a big run.

“He's spot on - very happy with him,” Autridge said. â€œHe's had a trip to Taupo for a gallop last week and he galloped very well on Tuesday with Matt Cameron up. We believe he's right where he should be. He's pretty race solid and he's a real little racehorse. He finds the line and that's always a big plus.

“It's a very good field, but we can't be scared of that. If nothing goes wrong, he's going to run an almighty race and I'd like to think he'd run one, two or three.”

Autridge said Love Triangle was likely to tackle the Listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie on October 24 as a lead-up to the 1000 Guineas, while Scrutinize was set to have his Gr. 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas lead-up in the Gr.2 Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa on October 26.

The Autridge-Richards stable has eight three-year-olds still in 2000 Guineas contention, among them Xtravagant, who contests the Hinuera Lodge 3yo at Te Rapa tomorrow. Twelve of their fillies remain in 1000 Guineas calculations, including possible Te Rapa runners Interstellar and Tatters, along with Risque and Special Memories, who will both contest the Zacinto at Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial at Riccarton on Saturday.