Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are heading into Saturday’s meeting at Te Rapa with the fixed-odds favourites for both of the thoroughbred mecca’s traditional flagship races.
This meeting was staged by the Cambridge Jockey Club until last year’s merger with the Waikato Racing Club and Waipa Racing Club to form Waikato Thoroughbred Racing. It features both of the black-type races formerly run under the Cambridge name – the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
James has previously tasted success in both races, winning the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes with Shees Flawless (NZ) (Fully Fledged) in 2015 and teaming up with Wellwood to take out the Travis Stakes in 2022 in a career finale for Group One-winning mare Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).
The Kingsclere Stables team will attempt to replicate that latter result on Saturday with Apostrophe (NZ) (Tavistock), who the TAB rates a $1.75 favourite for what is likely to be her final career start in the Travis Stakes.
The daughter of Tavistock was bought by James and Wellwood for $60,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2019, and she has turned that into more than $228,000 from a 20-start career that has produced six wins and five placings.
Apostrophe has enjoyed a career-best campaign as a six-year-old this season. After making a big impression with a Rating 75 victory at Hastings in the spring, she graduated to black-type class with second placings in photo finishes to the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) and Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (2000m).
She stretched out beyond 1600m for the first time in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) at Trentham on April 6, where she finished powerfully from off the pace to win going away by two and a half lengths.
“I’d say that there’s every possibility that this will be the last race of her career,” James said.
“It was very pleasing to see her get that first Group win last start. All the way through her career, she’s given us the impression that getting up over ground would really suit her, but until this season we haven’t quite got to the point of a campaign with her where we’ve felt she was strong enough.
“This time in, her runs over a mile were very promising and she was showing us that she was ready to go further. We finally had the chance to give her that opportunity at Trentham last start, and it was a very convincing win.
“Everything has gone to plan with her since then. She doesn’t take much work and is fit and ready for Saturday, where Masa (Hashizume) will ride her again.”
James and Wellwood also have strong representation in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, where December (NZ) (Shamexpress) is rated the $4.20 favourite and Irish Legacy (I Am Invincible) is fourth favourite at $8.
December was a smart winner over 1200m in his first two starts in November, then stepped up to 1400m and finished eighth in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas on Boxing Day.
The Shamexpress gelding was an eye-catching sixth behind Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) in late January, then returned to the winning groove with a convincing performance at Taupo on March 8.
“December’s form is very good generally, and he’s pleased us in the lead-up to this race,” James said. “I think being on the fresh side helps him, and he should be well suited to a track like Te Rapa.”
Irish Legacy boasts world-class pedigree credentials, being by superstar sire I Am Invincible out of the multiple Group One-winning Savabeel mare Shillelagh (NZ).
She was a dominant debut winner at Taupo in February, beating subsequent three-race winner Billy Lincoln (NZ) (Belardo) by two and a half lengths. Irish Legacy stepped into stakes company with a flying finish for third in the Gr.3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) in her second career start, then finished eighth in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m).
“The wet track was no friend to Irish Legacy at Trentham last time, but her runs prior to that had been very promising,” James said. “She’s shown a fair amount of ability. Her Achilles heel is that she hasn’t been great out of the barriers.
“It’s a strong field on Saturday, so they’ll both need to be at the top of their game.”
