In any other year Group One-winning mare Skew Wiff would likely be on her way to the breeding barn, however, with the level of prizemoney now on offer, owner-breeder Mark Chittick of Waikato Stud has decided to continue with her as a racing proposition. 

The daughter of Champion New Zealand stallion Savabeel has four wins to her credit to date, including last year’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings and Gr.3 HKJC Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. 

She returned to New Zealand ahead of the new season and impressed her connections with her performances over the early part of spring, including placings in the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). 

Off the back of those runs, and the increased prizemoney over summer, including the introduction of the Sport Nation Champion Sprint Series, Chittick elected to keep his five-year-old mare in work with trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata following a freshen-up. 

“The beauty about Entain and the prizemoney here, and in Australia, it gives a mare like that incentive to race on,” Bergerson said. “There are so many good races for her over summer, especially with that sprint series.  

“She raced so well in the spring, we gave her a break and brought her back and Mark (Chittick, Waikato Stud principal) was keen to have another season with her racing.” 

Skew Wiff validated Chittick’s decision with a pleasing trial win over 900m at Taupo on Tuesday and is on track to try and add to her elite-level haul over summer. 

“We didn’t expect her to trial that well,” Bergerson said. “We were mindful that Waipa is next week, and it could be quite firm, so we brought that trial forward. Opie (Bosson, jockey) said she was so well and so keen, you couldn’t go any quieter on her. 

“I am really happy with how she pulled up, she had a good blow and looks fantastic, probably the best she has ever looked.  

“She will go onto another trial towards the middle of December and then hopefully onto the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) and the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m), which look the two logical options for her initially.” 

Bergerson was also pleased to see exciting filly Damask Rose return to the trials on Tuesday, with the three-year-old daughter of Savabeel finishing runner-up in her 1000m heat behind stablemate Polly Plum. 

“Opie rode her and he was happy with everything, she felt great. She had a bit of a blow on pulling up so she will definitely improve,” Bergerson said. 

Damask Rose was a standout juvenile last term, winning on debut at New Plymouth before finishing runner-up to Velocious in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). 

She picked up an injury during that run and was ruled out of the rest of the season, but returned in good form earlier this spring where she placed behind star fillies Alabama Lass and Captured By Love in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings. 

“She chipped a fetlock in the Karaka Million and we were mindful that they sometimes don’t come back from an injury like that, but the Gold Trail showed she still wants to do it and she has come back in good order,” Bergerson said. 

“She was really good in the Gold Trail and then we tipped her out as we thought she needed a bit more time, and she seems to have come back in really good order. Fingers crossed she is in for an exciting summer.” 

Damask Rose is set to resume at Te Rapa next month, with and eye towards the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 25. 

“She will go to Te Rapa on Waikato Cup Day, there is a three-year-old 1200m and then potentially onto the Auckland Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) on Boxing Day, and then onto the Karaka Million hopefully.”