Skew Wiff winning the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

Skew Wiff looking to add to Group One tally

LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
21 February 2024

The Waikato Stud-bred and raced Skew Wiff already has a Group One scalp next to her name, but trainer Mark Walker is keen to add an Australian elite-level title to her record.

The daughter of Savabeel broke through for her maiden Group One success in last year’s Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings before crossing the Tasman where she won the Gr.3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, before finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m), her first attempt at elite-level in Australia.

She has returned in fine fettle and will get another crack at Group One glory on Saturday when she tackles the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield.

“Mark (Walker) says she is a very good horse fresh. She won her jumpout last Monday really well and we will keep her fresh into Saturday,” Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson told Racing.com.

“She has got a really good 200m sprint on her, she ran the quickest last 400m of the race in the Rupert Clarke, so that shows the turn of foot that she has, and she was exposed for most of that run.

“If she can sit in behind the speed, I think she will have a good turn of foot as anything.”

Meanwhile, Gleeson has been pleased with the way Te Akau Racing’s sprinting sensation Imperatriz has come through her victory in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m).

“She is super. She really bounced out of the run,” he said. “Being a sit and sprint race, generally they all will, but she wanted to get back to the races and have that blowout.

“It has really switched her on mentally and I watched her walk home from the pool the other day and she had a strut on her, so she is in a really good headspace.

“Mark will fly back Friday, we will watch her work and make the decision as to where she goes, with David and Karyn, after he next gallop. We will put in a range of nominations and keep all options open.”

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