Star performer Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) won’t be over-taxed during her spring preparation, with trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood more focussed on longer-term targets with their stable star.
The daughter of Savabeel has returned to work with the Cambridge trainers following her outstanding three-year-old season.
Orchestral put together five wins on the bounce, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), and was spelled after finishing third in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).
“She’s very well and enjoying being back in the stable, so it’s exciting heading forward,” Wellwood said.
“We’ve got three different plans, one is Sydney, one is Melbourne and the other is New Zealand.
“It can be a very hard time for a four-year-old spring mare, she had a big three-year-old season so we will be reasonably conservative with her.
“Plans will be firmed up more once we have got her through to a trial and see what the weather is doing in each jurisdiction.
“There are good options for her, but we will really be focussing on some exciting races in the autumn and have to be a bit patient with her in the spring.”
Meanwhile, the stable will have a quiet weekend, with the Irish-bred mare Samoot (Dubawi) their only representative.
The well-travelled daughter of Dubawi faces an important assignment in the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth on Saturday.
The mare is owned by Australian Bloodstock and relocated to New Zealand with one aim.
“The master plan was for her to come across and get some black type and this is a great opportunity for her,” Wellwood said.
“It would be lovely to get some black type for her, she’s got a good page and it would make her a pretty desirable asset to have in anyone’s broodmare band.
“We haven’t had a huge involvement with Australian Bloodstock, but we appreciate their support and just hope we can get the job done for them and continue the relationship.”
Samoot is a daughter of the multiple stakes-winning Red Ransom mare Muthabara and she is out of a three-quarter sister to Bahhare, who sired Group One winners Hurrah and Dowry during his time in New Zealand.
Samoot was twice successful from Sir Michael Stoute’s Newmarket stable before she was purchased by Australian Bloodstock and doubled her winning tally for trainer Kris Lees.
The six-year-old has placed in two of her four runs in New Zealand, including a last-start resuming second at Hastings last month. Masa Hashizume takes the ride at the weekend.
“She’s had decent form in Australia, it’s probably been a while since we’ve seen that but her form here hasn’t been that bad and she’s going to get her chance on Saturday,” Wellwood said.
“She needed the last run and got held up at the top of the straight and she’s derived good benefit from that.
“The worst thing is that she’s drawn wide (12) and it will dictate a bit on how we ride her.”
