Ali Arc (NZ) (Bullbars) cleared maiden ranks at Matamata on Wednesday with a comfortable one length victory in her 1600m contest.
Co-trainer Graham Richardson has New Zealand Oaks (2400m) aspirations with the daughter of Bullbars and is eyeing a tilt at the Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai sponsored event next month.
“She looks like she needs more ground already and we always thought that is what she would do,” he said. “She has come alright at the right time and it (the Oaks) has always been the plan from when we bought her.”
Richardson, who trains in partnership with Rogan Norvall, admitted Ali Arc may not be at her best for the Trentham feature but classic race opportunities only come around once in a horse’s career.
“She has needed time and she will definitely be better next year, but you are only three once,” Richardson said.
“There are a couple of options to get there. There’s the Sunline Vase (Gr.3, 2100m) on Derby Day or the Lowland (Gr.2, 2100m), but that would be two trips away and I don’t think she would handle that so we would possibly go to Ellerslie.”
Ali Arc, who is from the family of the Richardson-trained Group One winner Volpe Veloce, was purchased for $42,500 out of Highview’s 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft.
