Trelawney Stud graduate Prise De Fer (Savabeel x Foiled) will take a picket fence formline into the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki on Saturday.
His latest wins include victories in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) at his last two starts.
“It’s his first serious test up with the big boys at level weights,” Richards said. “He’s made good steady progress through the grades, winning the Rich Hill Mile at open handicap, and Taranaki Cup at set weights and penalties.
“We think he’s in the right sort of form and three weeks spacing is ideal.”
Richards believes the step back in distance will be ideal for the gelding, but he did share concerns about the track conditions, which were rated a Slow7 on Thursday morning.
“Back to a mile shouldn’t be a problem as we’ve kept his work pretty sharp,” Richards said. “He looks to be heading in the right direction, but one query could be soft ground. He’s won on soft in Rating 72 grade, but we do think he’s better on top of it.”
Bred by Raffles Dancers, Prise De Fer was purchased by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis for $100,000 out of Trelawney Stud's 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling draft and has now won six of his twelve starts. -NZ Racing News, Trelawney Stud