Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have always had plenty of time for Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock) and they are hoping she can fulfil her Group One potential at Ellerslie this weekend.
Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, the daughter of Tavistock has come a long way in just 12 starts, winning her first five outings, including the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m), and subsequently added a further two victories to her tally.
She placed in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings last September, but her connections believe she has an elite-level win in her and are hoping she can do it on Saturday in the Gr.1 NZEA New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
She takes winning form into the race, having taken out the Royal Descent Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month, and her trainers couldn’t be happier with her ahead of her weekend assignment,
“She has only had 12 starts so she is the rookie of the field against the other mares who are pretty experienced,” Ritchie told Trackside NZ.
“She is a high-quality mare and is a Group One mare in waiting, and I hope for our sake that it is this weekend.
“I don’t think we can get her in better order. She has got a great record second-up and she had a nice, soft kill first-up, so she has bounced away and improved off that.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Nepheti (NZ) (Charm Spirit) will be looking to get her preparation back on track in the Barfoot & Thompson 1400.
The Charm Spirit filly won two of her first four starts before running seventh in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie earlier this month, and her trainers are hoping stepping back in distance will benefit the three-year-old.
“The big question mark is stepping back from 2100m in three weeks,” Ritchie said. “She failed to see out that last couple of hundred (metres), so we have kept her nice and fresh. We haven’t done a lot of work with her, she had a week off and just had a couple of quiet gallops. She seems to be at her best around that mile mark.
“We have got a high-quality horse, we are just hoping the 1400m suits her better than a staying trip. Trying to get her to an Oaks didn’t work at all.
“She seems to be keen in her races, she jumps and gets out there and she will relax through the middle part.
“She is on trial to perhaps go to Christchurch for the mile down there (Listed NZB Insurance Stakes, 1600m) or if she hits the line really well we might chance our arm at 1800m (Gr.3 Auraria Stakes) in Adelaide. I guess we will get all of our answers on Saturday.”
