Leith Innes is upbeat about his feature race prospects at Hawke’s Bay on Saturday, despite acknowledging the ruling favourites cast a significant shadow. 

 

He takes the ride on the Frank Ritchie-trained Fiscal Fantasy in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) who is coming off a last start third in the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe two weeks ago, pleasing Innes with her effort.

 

“She went really well at Pukekohe, she was a little bit unlucky,” he said.

 

Innes believes the five-year-old mare is a good chance to run a place in a market heavily dominated by $1.25 favourite Melody Belle.

 

“Take Melody Belle out, it’s a pretty open field, so I’ll be riding for luck and hopefully she runs well.”

 

Earlier on the card Innes rides last-start winner Sherwood Forest in the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) for trainer Tony Pike.

 

“I haven’t ridden him before. Obviously Catalyst looks pretty hard to roll, but he won at Ruakaka well, so he deserves his spot in the race.”

 

 

 

Talented three-year-old Holy Mongolemperor has gone for a spell and will not contest the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, for which he is the $8 second favourite behind Catalyst ($1.80).

 

The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained colt by More Than Ready was hindered by a minor infection in a hind leg and the decision was made to pull pin on his current campaign.

 

“He has gone to the paddock today and will come back with a view to summer and autumn targets,” Baker said. “He’s a lovely colt and we look forward to next campaign.”

 

 

 

Darci Brahma gelding Full of Beauty took out Hong Kong’s first Group race of the season when he was victorious in the Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday.

  

Full Of Beauty won his first five races in Hong Kong last season, placed second in his next two and rounded out his four-year-old campaign with a sound fourth. All of those efforts were at 1200m and took his rating from 54 to 103.

 

After making it one win from one run at the minimum trip, Moreira believes there should be more to come from the gelding.

 

“He’s not fully tuned yet, there’s still some improvement in him and that’s a nice situation to be in,” he said. 

 

“He’s an up-and-coming horse and he has potential. It’s hard to predict what his top rating will be but I can say that he’s heading forward.”

 

Like Beauty Generation, Full of Beauty was bred by Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud.