Cambridge trainer Ben Foote is hoping he can get his hands on some silverware at Te Rapa on Saturday where he will have two stakes contenders.
Exciting mare Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) will be looking to add another stakes scalp to her record when she contests the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) after already posting wins in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) in her last two starts.
She was first up in the Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton earlier this month and Foote has been pleased with the way she has settled back into her home environment following her trip to Christchurch.
“She came back looking fantastic on Tuesday when she got home,” Foote said. “Terri Rae has kept her up to the mark and she has been very happy with her.”
The daughter of All Too Hard will be ridden from gate 11 by Lisa Allpress on Saturday and despite her wide marble, Foote is confident she can cross her rivals.
“The draw is not ideal but I think she has got enough speed to get out and cross them,” Foote said.
“Even if they do put the pressure on, anything that tries to take her on usually runs last.
“She is the fastest horse in the field, but she has got to get a good run and she has got to run the distance right out.”
A trip across the Tasman is in the offing in the New Year if she continues to perform well, however, a Group One target at Ellerslie on January 1 awaits the speedy mare.
“I will give her one more run or a trial heading into the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m),” Foote said.
“I am not too sure yet whether we look at the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) or go to Australia, we will have to have a talk about it.”
Foote will also line-up Group One winner Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) in the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
The daughter of El Roca also pleased in her first-up outing at Te Rapa earlier this month where she finished third over 1400m, carrying 61.5kg.
“It was a good effort considering the weight she carried,” Foote said. “She will improve with the run and I am expecting a very good run on Saturday.
“Everything seems to be working out just how I want it, I couldn’t be happier with her.”
Travelling Light could also head across the Tasman next year, however, Foote said she would have to perform well in her New Zealand assignments to warrant a trip.
“We are definitely going to have a look at the Captain Cook (Gr.1, 1600m) and then talk with the owner to see what her plans are,” Foote said.
“There are some good races here for her, but if she is anything like she was as a three-year-old then she would probably be worthy of taking to Australia.
“But we will just take it race-by-race with her at the moment.”
