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Super Pursuit impresses at Tauranga; Surprise Baby ready for Flemington fight; Impressive Sky Field aims to keep on rising

Super Pursuit impresses at Tauranga

The Richard Collett-trained Super Pursuit broke maiden ranks at Tauranga on Wednesday in the manner of a horse destined for higher grades, vindicating the support of punters.

Off the scene since finishing fourth at Te Rapa as a two-year-old to last weekend's Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) winner Subpoeaned, the now four-year-old came from the rear of the field under a cool Andrew Calder ride to win going away.

"I was hoping everything went right," Collett said. "He is a horse that showed immense ability early on. We gave him a couple of two-year-old races and he was just a bit raw.

"He would have won races as a three-year-old but he broke his splint bone as a spring three-year-old and was operated on and missed the spring.

"He missed the autumn as well when lockdown hit. He has had 17 months to mature but he is a pretty nice galloper."

Raced by his breeders, Mac Robinson and Craig Grammer, Super Pursuit is a half-brother to New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu.

Collett, whose team is in fine form, intends to step the son of Proisir through his grades.

"He was a bit raw coming between horses and he will go to Saturday racing now," Collett said. "He might go to Ellerslie in two and a half weeks."

Surprise Baby ready for Flemington fight

Paul Preusker can't wait to see his quality stayer Surprise Baby step into the ring when he starts in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

Preusker talks regularly in boxing parlance regarding Surprise Baby and said he's looking forward to him having a decent contest at Flemington over 2000m on Saturday.

"He's going to be a good winning chance but for me, it's all about having a spar to get him right for the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m)," Preusker said.

"He worked super on Tuesday. Not too taxing, just beautiful and he's up for the fight on Saturday."

Preusker was pleased with the horse's first-up second to Humidor in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 5, although he was a little disappointed that he was beaten.

"He was there for a hit-out. He wasn't good enough in the finish but he had a tough run," he said.

It was Surprise Baby's first start since he finished an unlucky fifth in last year's Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), a race which is his sole focus this spring.

"We've got to be sensible. I don't want to sacrifice a Melbourne Cup by running in the Cox Plate," Preusker said.

"He'll start on Saturday and then we'll unwind and make the right decision as to whether he has another run before it."

A son of Shocking, Surprise Baby was purchased as an unraced three-year-old via gavelhouse.com for just $5,500.

Impressive Sky Field aims to keep on rising

The Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Field made a big statement to end last season and picked up this term exactly where he left off, dazzling with a first-up victory.

He goes again in Thursday's Class 3 Shanghai Handicap (1200m) but his handler is being level-headed about his chances despite his exciting young gun taking on a field of only six opponents.

"He's a horse with a lot of upside – he'll carry 133 pounds on the weekend and even though it's a small field, in this game you still have to respect your opponents because someone can get a soft sectional and pinch it or you can get caught up in traffic," Fownes said.

"He's one of the few horses that really excites me - he's got a big engine and he's still learning his trade, so there's a lot of upside with him."

Fownes could target his charge, who was purchased out of Trelawney Stud's 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft, at the first leg of the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile on Sunday in January.

"His next race, no matter what, will be a Class 2 race and it's whether or not I go to 1400 metres, but at this stage I've earmarked a contest on the 24th (October) for him to step up in trip and in class, so hopefully he can get the job done for us on Thursday," Fownes said.

Meanwhile, the talented Mighty Giant will kick off his season in the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1400m).

The five-year-old son of Power bagged four wins in his first campaign and returns after spending his summer at Conghua.

"I think he'll move to up a 100 rating, he's still not fully matured yet," trainer Ricky Yiu said.

"I like to base him at Conghua, I sent him there to have a good break before he runs again this season because he will have a tougher season than last.

"It'll be interesting to see how he goes in Class 2, especially with the wide draw but I think he'll do well - the feedback from Conghua has been positive."