Group One performer Archaic Smile has taken significant benefit from her first-up outing and another top showing is expected from the filly at Hastings.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior finished runner-up in her three-year-old debut last month and will bid to go one better in Saturday’s Gr.3 HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
“I was happy with her return at Taupo where the track was against her, she wants a firm surface and from gate one she was caught in the worst part of it,” trainer Tony Pike said.
“She raced a touch fresh but fought on well and had a good blow afterwards, she has definitely improved off the run and will need to.
“Obviously, Alabama Express was very impressive that day and will be extremely hard to beat on Saturday.”
Ryan Elliot will retain the ride on Archaic Smile, who won the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m) last season, finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Time will tell if the filly can go a step further in trip to master a mile in the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“The top four of five fillies are in the same boat, they’ll all run out 1200 and 1400m and whether they run a strong mile at Riccarton has yet to be seen,” Pike said.
He will also be represented by a fresh Poetic Champion in the other three-year-old feature at Hastings, the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).
The son of Super Seth was a winner and multiple stakes placegetter during his juvenile campaign.
“We’ve had a bit of a short run up with him after trialling last Friday and possibly would have preferred an extra couple of weeks, but he trialled well and he’s forward enough to be competitive,” Pike said.
“He’s a very genuine horse who will improve with a run under his belt.”
Pike will have a sizeable team on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival with a quartet of runners in the Remember Jooky Premier (1400m), including the progressive Witz End.
“I didn’t really want to have four in it, but we didn’t have a lot of options to split them all up,” he said.
Witz End posted two wins and two placings, including a second in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m), from four domestic starts before unsuitably wet ground foiled him in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
“He went around on a heavy track at Te Rapa in a trial and then won on the synthetic at Cambridge,” Pike said.
“It was a good, solid hit-out and he’s forward enough to run a bold race fresh-up.”
He also likes the chances of Slipper Island in The Peninsular Beachfront Resort Mooloolaba Premier (1300m).
“He’s well-weighted and has come back a lot better horse this preparation,” Pike said.
“He’s only had the one barrier trial, but he went really nicely and Cast Of Diamonds will improve but he’s a genuine each way chance.”
Cast Of Diamonds won at Rotorua in April before a spell and has had two trials to ready him for the Hastings Blossom Festival Premier (1600m).
