Stakes opportunities await mother to be
Plans are in place to give talented mare Pure Incanto every chance to boost her future value before time is called on her racing career.
The sparingly raced daughter of Per Incanto’s final campaign will include a crack at Saturday’s Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa as she works her way toward a Group One grand final.
“She’s under-estimated really and hasn’t had many starts, we’re chasing more black type this year because she’s in foal to Proisir,” trainer Janelle Millar said.
The seven-year-old has won three of her 16 starts, including success in the Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m) at Hastings in the autumn.
“I was confident leading into that race and she proved she was up to it,” Millar said.
“She’s always showed a ton of ability, but she is quite quirky and we’ve had issues with her feet and back problems because of that.
“We’ve had to space her races out and looked after her. She gets ongoing physio treatment and gets everything she needs.
“I think she’ll be competitive on Saturday from a good draw (three) with only 53kg on her back.”
All going well, Pure Incanto bow out in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at Pukekohe Park on New Year’s Day.
“I might be getting ahead of myself, but the plan is to aim for the Railway and that will be her finale,” Millar said.
The New Plymouth horsewoman will also be represented at Te Rapa by Testify Me in the Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day 16 Dec Handicap (1600m) and Dream Machine in the Impact Off Road Handicap (1300m).
The former was a course and distance winner last preparation and recently resumed at Trentham where the son of Atlante finished a sound fourth.
“Testify Me is a really nice horse and still learning. He was falling out of the gates and getting back and making it hard for himself, now he’s jumping and putting himself in the race,” Millar said.
“I reckon he’s got a bit of black type in him and he’s up to a mile now, but I think 2000m will be his go.”
Dream Machine was also successful at Te Rapa last preparation and finished fifth when returning to action on her home track last month.
“She was right there before she blew out in the last 100 metres,” Millar said.
“She’s a lovely mare who takes a bit of racing and improves with each race and I think she’s going to benefit again from another run.”