3 minute read

Group targets await Our Alley Cat; I'm Thunderstruck ready to rock in Toorak; Prix De Turn pitched in Guineas deep-end; Another Group One test for Never Been Kissed

Group targets await Our Alley Cat

Matamata trainer Vicki Prendergast was delighted with the return of stable star Our Alley Cat at Hawke's Bay last weekend and is eyeing a series of Group races to add to the residual value of the five-year-old mare.

The daughter of Atlante, who signed off from her previous campaign with a good second in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) behind Levante, ran out a ready winner of an Open Handicap over 1300m at Hastings on Saturday.

"I was pretty happy," Prendergast said.

"After her Group Two second we had a few foot problems and we didn't know if she was going to return to the horse she used to be.

"We are really happy to see she is happy and well and ready to be the star we know she is.

"We are looking at going back to Hawke's Bay in a fortnight for the Group Three sprint (Red Badge, 1400m). We are just concerned about the weather at this stage, she can't cope with any moisture in the track."

Safely through her Hawke's Bay assignment on Saturday week, the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on November 20 and the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year's Day are the targets this campaign.

"We don't like to race her too often because she races much better in a fresh state but I think this early in her prep I'll get away with it. But it will probably be the only time I back her up in a fortnight, they will be spaced from here on in," Prendergast said.

The hands-on trainer also confirmed that talented filly Electrify, a daughter of Shocking who caught the eye when finishing third in her sole raceday start at Rotorua last week, had a sale pending that would see her cross the Tasman next week.

"We don't sell a lot because we only have a small team and she is a bit special to us, we would have liked to have kept her but when the money is there you better take it and go," Predergast said.

I'm Thunderstruck ready to rock in Toorak

Talented Kiwi import I'm Thunderstruck  will start a warm favourite in Saturday's Gr. 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking finalised his preparations with a pleasing gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday under Jye McNeil.

The winner of four of his seven starts to date, I'm Thunderstruck was a luckless third in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 18, after drawing the outside barrier.

Should a rain-affected surface present on Saturday, connections are not concerned.

"It probably enhances his chances, I think he grows a leg in the wet," Kent Jnr told RSN.

"He worked nicely this morning and we are hoping for even luck this weekend. We didn't get luck in the Rupert Clarke and if he can draw a decent barrier he won't have to get so far back. The horse has trained on beautifully.

 "He is settling so much better now in his work and in his races so I think the mile is ideal now. He is really blooming.

"I think Elephant is the hardest to beat, he is just a winner and he is also, interestingly, a son of Shocking."

Bred by Tony Forlong and Jennifer Jones, I'm Thunderstruck was initially prepared in New Zealand by Matamata trainer Daniel Miller for whom he won his 1000m trial at Te Aroha in June last year before being sold privately to OTI through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.

Safely through Saturday's assignment, the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) remains a target for I'm Thunderstruck.

Prix De Turn pitched in Guineas deep-end

Talented three-year-old Prix De Turn will contest the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday at just his second start.

Prepared by Cranbourne trainer Matthew Brown, the colt finished runner-up in a strong three-year-old contest over 1400m at Sandown a fortnight ago and scraped into the Guineas field.

While fortune favoured the youngster in making the field, jockey Brian Higgins will have to overcome the outside barrier in the capacity 16-horse field.

"We bought him as a breeze up horse and we got a feel of him straight away and knew he was above average," Brown told RSN.

"He had a few little setbacks at the beginning of the prep, which cost us a couple of weeks and that is why he is heading into the Guineas at his second start.

"He has got to improve still from his first-up run, but we are happy to have a crack. He was far from screwed down for that first race.

The colt is by Turn Me Loose, a horse whom Brown followed closely through his racing career as his father Scott had a share in the triple Group One winner.

Prix de Turn was bred by the Alchemy Family Trust in conjunction with Windsor Park Stud, who stand Turn Me Loose, and is out of the Red Ransom mare Prix Du Sang.

Another Group One test for Never Been Kissed

Saturday's Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed has come through her maiden Group One victory well and is likely to back up in Saturday's Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

The daughter of Tivaci is prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who report the filly has been nice and bright the last couple of mornings.

"She has done really well in a lot of senses so at this stage we are really keen at looking at Saturday," Bott said.

"The way she ran out the mile, and it was a strongly run mile, and to see how strong she was through the line was really encouraging and it opened up a few options," he said.

"Being a Group One winner, we are now treated a bit differently for some races we might have looked at. There are a lot of benefits to try and keep her here (in Sydney) and step up to the 2000.m

"Traditionally the fillies have done quite well coming out of that race (Flight Stakes) and having a crack at the Spring Champion."