Te Akau Monday Update

The Informant reports:

Aspen and King Savinsky added to the impact being made by Jason Bridgman's Gr. 1 Sothy's NZ 2000 Guineas entrants when providing a stable quinella at Ruakaka last Saturday.

Bridgman picked up a double at Taupo last Monday with the three-year-olds Spellbinder and Wolfwhistle, then landed a treble two days later at Te Rapa with a trio of three-year-old debutantes King's Rock, Alchemy's Flight and Enhance.

Each of the above-mentioned horses are part of Bridgman's large number of entries for the $400,000 Riccarton feature on November 9. He entered 12 horses for the 2000 Guineas.

Aspen, a son of Alamosa and Kirin Belle, was placed in the first of his five trials, at Avondale last September, and was also runner-up in the most recent trials outing, at Te Teko last month. That trials experience stood to him last Saturday as he scored decisively by two and a quarter lengths in the www.loganracing.co.nz 3YO Maiden.

“He's a beautiful moving colt and one of the three-year-old with the most potential,” said Bridgman. “He's entered for the 2000 Guineas, but I think he could be more a type for the New Zealand Derby. There's so much improvement in him.”

While King Savinsky was overshadowed by Aspen last Saturday, his performance for second was probably the run of the race. He stormed home from the rear to claim second by a length and a quarter from Zanotti, who was placed as a two-year-old last July.

King Savinsky hails from the same family as Sacred Kingdom, the 2010 Hong Kong Horse Of The Year and a champion sprinter, but being a son of Savabeel, he should make his mark over ground. And that's the way Bridgman sees it.

“He's a precocious stayer who could run 2000 metres now,” said Bridgman. “He holds a nomination for the Two Thousand Guineas but he's definitely more of a Derby type. I can see him improving out of sight when he gets over more ground.”

King Savinsky has had three starts and his first start was at Te Rapa on July 3 when fourth to runaway winner Cauthen. His second start was also over 1200 metres and though he appreciated the step up to 1400 last Saturday he will definitely be a better chance at 1600 next time.