Young talent Lara Antipova will be heavily in credit with Craig Grylls if she can carry him to victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham.
They will team up again in the Windsor Park Stud-sponsored two-year-old feature following the daughter of Russian Revolution’s runaway debut victory at Te Aroha in the high-flying jockey’s hands.
The Te Akau-prepared Lara Antipova repaid a debt they owed Grylls after a previous incident which resulted in the champion rider requiring time out.
“Early on, she could get a bit cantankerous and she broke his finger, and he had to have a little stint on the sideline,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the filly with Mark Walker.
“We had jump-outs here at home and she bucked him off and his finger got caught in the rein, it was pretty nasty.”
Raced by John Galvin’s Fortuna, Lara Antipova sat outside the leader at Te Aroha and cruised clear in the run home to have eight lengths on her nearest rival at the post.
“It’s a step up for her on Saturday and she has to travel, but she has come through her first run really well and her work has been good,” Bergerson said.
“She’s ticking the boxes so far and it’s a really good opportunity for her to get black type so early in her career.”
The stable will also have strong chances with Origin Of Love in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and What You Wish For in the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m).
To be ridden by Vinnie Colgan, Snitzel filly Origin Of Love won the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) before a game fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
“She’s just kept getting better and better, early on she was pretty highly strung and did a lot wrong,” Bergerson said.
“The South Island has done her the world of good, and I thought she ran really well in a strong 1000 Guineas.”
Origin Of Love crossed Cook Strait without incident on Tuesday morning and is currently at the Awapuni stable of Bergerson’s father Roydon.
Bruno Queiroz will partner What You Wish For who was a last-start sixth in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).
“He’s run in some really good races, but he’s the sort of horse that needs things to go his way and hasn’t had the rub of the green lately,” Bergerson said.
“He drew wide at Counties and we elected to go back and they went no gallop and he was really good getting to the line.
“He’s drawn out (12) again which is a bit frustrating, but he gets in with a light weight (54.5kg) and looks another good each-way chance.
“He’s come through his last run very well and we think Trentham will suit him nicely.”
Meanwhile, the stable is hopeful of Hakkinen (Norwegian Park Mile, 1600m) and Balance Of Power (MVP Cars Handicap, 2100m) turning their form around at Te Rapa on Saturday.
“Hakkinen was disappointing last start, we thought he had every chance and we might ride him a bit colder,” Bergerson said.
“Balance Of Power was another one who was a head-scratcher at Pukekohe. His form before that was good and we can’t fault them, they are capable and it wouldn’t be any surprise if both were thereabouts.”
Te Akau will also have several chances at Matamata on Friday and Bergerson tipped Frosted three-year-old Arctic Jewel as a top hope in the Comag Maiden (1200m) off the back of two placings.
“She will probably run in race two, she’s in race one as well, and she’s been knocking on the door and we’re hoping Born To Be Royal can put her hand up and carry on to some nice staying three-year-old fillies’ races deeper into the season.”
By King’s Legacy, she runs in the Bell & Graham 3YO (1600m) following a sound last-start third when resuming at Te Aroha. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
