Meritable steps up to stakes company

Matthew Cameron is hoping to continue his successful association with Meritable on Saturday when he partners the three-year-old colt in the Gr.2 Dundeel at Arrowfield Stud Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).

Cameron rode the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained son of Snitzel to a last-start victory at the Cambridge last week and was impressed with the effort.

“He is a super little horse,” Cameron told The Form. “It was a tough win last start on the synthetic. It was a nice little field and I think it will be a bit of a form race.

“He is a colt and only does what he has to, so the blinkers will come on for Saturday. He is a horse that is probably going to keep on improving so I am very excited to be sitting on him again.”

Meritable races in the colours of the China Horse Club, and Cameron said the colt had some similarities to multiple Group One winner Madison County who raced in the same ownership interests from the Baker-Forsman stable.

Khufu continues on Guineas campaign

Last start winner Khufu will continue his progression towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 49^th New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) when he contests Saturday’s Gr.2 Dundeel at Arrowfield Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings.

The Tony Pike-trained three-year-old broke through for his maiden win at Hawera earlier this month and while Pike hadn’t planned on stepping him back up to stakes company so soon, track conditions dictated the next step in his preparation.

“We wanted to take an easier option with him through Matamata last week,” Pike said. “It is a big jump in class from a Hawera maiden but due to track conditions we were forced to scratch last week and head to the Guineas on Saturday. The better track conditions are going to suit.

“He is very progressive, we know how much ability he has got and it will be interesting to see how he matches up against the better three-year-olds. Hopefully he is on a Guineas path down to Riccarton.”

Meanwhile, Pike has already sent a seven-strong team south to Riccarton for their upcoming spring carnival and is looking forward to seeing several of the contingent launch their campaigns at Saturday’s meeting.

“We have a few kicking off at Riccarton this weekend,” he said. “Field of Gold runs in the three-year-old 1400m race. He won a weak maiden at Te Rapa but he is a horse we have always held in pretty high regard. He is Sherwood Forest’s half-brother and probably has a bit more brilliance than he had at three.

“I think the trip away will help him progress to the Guineas.

“There You Go has done well in stakes races even though she is still a maidener. She has come up really well this preparation and will kick off in the maiden 1400m. She is one that could get through to the Guineas.”

Icebath primed for Epsom

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has Kiwi-bred mare Icebath right where he wants her ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.

A winner of three races, the daughter of Sacred Falls has run well in all three starts this campaign  and connections will be hoping she goes one better than the last time when seen over the Randwick mile, finishing a narrow runner-up in the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap.

“I hope she can run well,” Widdup said. “She is in terrific order. Obviously a bit of rain will help her but I couldn’t be happier with her.

“I’ve had a very good preparation with her without getting a win.

“I would have liked to have got a result along the way but, other than that, it has been the plan the whole way through to back-up into the Epsom. I think she is cherry ripe for it, her run last week suggests it.”

Icebath, who finished fourth in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m), has drawn gate 14 in the 17 horse Epsom field and has the services of Robbie Dolan who will ride at 52kgs.

“There are a few of the hot pots around us,” Widdup said. “Mo’unga, Cascaidan, Atishu - if we can get on the back of one of them it will take us a long way anyway. We have to try and get on the back of the right horse and go from there.”

Safely out of Saturday’s race Widdup is hopeful of an invite to contest the inaugural running of the A$2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on October 23.

Toorak for Second Slip

Five-year-old Alamosa gelding Second Slip has come through his runner-up finish in the Listed Balaklava Cup (1600m) and trainer Will Clarken will now have a throw at the stumps in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) on Saturday week.

The Kiwi import has proved a revelation since joining the in-form South Australian stable, winning five of his eight starts from his new quarters, including the Listed Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) two starts ago.

“He has come through the Balaklava Cup run fantastically,” Clarken said.

“He had a good, strong jumpout on Tuesday morning. At this stage I am going to roll the dice and run him in the Toorak. He is a horse that is in career best form and I think he deserves his chance in a big handicap.”

Previously prepared by Kevin Gray, Second Slip won two of his 12 starts in New Zealand before attracting the attention of Melbourne-based bloodstock agent Lenny Russo, who brokered a deal that saw him join Clarken.

Perfect conditions at Hawke’s Bay

Track conditions are expected to be ideal at Hastings on Saturday, where the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) is the highlight of the second day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival.

While the opening day was run on a Slow8 track, a favourable forecast for Saturday should provide runners with every opportunity and the rail will be pushed out four metres.

“It will be like a fresh new surface, especially down the back and around the bend,” Track Manager Richard Fenwick said.

“The track is just into the Dead4 range, which you would think should be ideal.”