HEADLINE ACT

Pier - $6.00

One of the 3YO class of 22/23, Pier will be looking to show the older horses that his crop of 3YO’s really was one out of the box. As a 3YO he skyrocketed through the grades to score a Group 1 win in the 2000 Guineas, but I think the key reference for this event was his unlucky 3^rd over 1200m in the Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy. Held up for most of the straight, he launched hard inside the final 200m, recording the 2^nd fastest 200m split of a truly elite race meeting. He went to the Te Rapa trials on 1^st August and put on a sharp display to show he will be ready to fire first up over the 1200m and from a futures perspective, we know he has form on all surfaces, so whether it is wet or dry, he is a likely runner.

Watch Pier's start in the Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy below.

MIDDLE MARKET

El Vencedor - $12.00

A truly honest customer who has improved with each racing prep he has had to date. Off his rating of 86, he is probably not best suited at WFA but he has shown he can carry weight when 3^rd in the Hallmark Stud Handicap (Listed) last prep, giving the winner 6kg and carrying the top weight of 60kg. He made his first appearance of the spring at the star-studded Te Rapa trials on 1^st August and showed that natural dash for a cozy 2^nd to star mare Imperatriz in what was the fastest trial of the day, by a substantial amount (0.53 seconds).  I believe he may trial once more before the Foxbridge Plate and this is a race I imagine they are targeting, rather than using as a steppingstone to other Spring features and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him ready to fire in a big way fresh up.

Watch El Vencedor most recent trial below.

OUTSIDE CHANCE

Wanderin Apache - $31

This horse is an interesting runner in the Foxbridge Plate. A name not many will be familiar with, but Wanderin Apache was known as Mighty Giant in Hong Kong. His Hong Kong exploits include, winning 5 in a row, a group 2 win beating horses such as Southern Legend & Waikuku and multiple other Group placings around horses such as Golden Sixty & California Spangle. While his Hong Kong form alone is enough to consider him overs at $31, he was another who posted a promising performance at the Te Rapa trials. Under Kozzi Asano, he railed and led the field for a soft trial win over 1100m. He is relatively un-tried at the 1200m trip, but I think with almost a year between runs, he could be fired up to get out there and run a big race fresh up.

Watch Wanderin Apache most recent trial below.

Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate futures market available here: https://bit.ly/3QvoZMF