If there were two runners in Wexford Stables deserved of a maiden victory, Smokeshow and Tempest have certainly put their hands up through their recent performances.
Andrew Scott, who trains the consistent duo in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, has the unfortunate scenario that only one can break through at Matamata on Wednesday, as both line up in the Karaka 2024 (1400m).
The younger of the pair, three-year-old gelding Smokeshow (NZ) (Contributer), has done himself few favours in his three race-day appearances, finishing second in each despite over-racing and hanging significantly in the closing stages.
Joe Doyle has partnered the promising gelding in two of those three starts and will be tasked with overcoming a tough outside barrier on Wednesday, while Tempest will jump from much closer to the inside rail under Warren Kennedy.
A five-year-old daughter of Frankel, Tempest (NZ) (Frankel) has followed her stablemates’ lead this preparation with three consecutive runner-up results, with six in total from her nine career attempts.
“They are certainly hard to split, with Warren on Tempest, and Joe Doyle on Smokeshow, we’ve got good jockeys on both as well,” Scott said.
“Smokeshow is a very promising horse, he’s been racing well and we think a win is very close.
“But Tempest’s last three starts have been three seconds, so she certainly deserves one as well. She’s by Frankel and we’d love to win a race for owners Sir Peter (Vela, owner of Pencarrow Stud) and Coolmore.”
Wexford will present a further seven runners at their local Matamata meeting, with Scott highlighting Jaffira, Trump Card and Toko Ono as key contenders in their respective events.
After competing in multiple Group-level three-year-old races last season, Iffraaj gelding Jaffira has produced a trio of solid performances this campaign, including a close-up third behind subsequent Remutaka Classic (2100m) winner The Odyssey at Te Rapa.
Stepping out of premier Saturday company, the four-year-old will contest the Save The Date Breeders Feb 24th (1600m).
“He ran on New Year’s Day in a premier field, Opie (Bosson, jockey) got off him and said he’d improve with the run, which we believe he has,” Scott said.
“Being back on his home track will take him a long way in being competitive, he ran in some good races last year without a lot of luck.”
Craig Grylls collected both the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham last Saturday, and the in-form hoop has been retained aboard Trump Card in the Premier Horse Transport 1600.
Also figuring in the Wellington Cup Carnival features was Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m)-winning jockey Sam Spratt, who will guide stablemate Toko Ono in the same event.
“We like Trump Card in the Maiden Mile, he’s a promising staying horse, and then Toko Ono who had the best sectionals of the race last start, he’s close to a win too,” Scott said.
“We’re hopeful of a strong day on our home track.”
