Horse racing: Trainers look to heavens before final Group 1s of the season

Seize The Day is the favourite for the $550,000 Courtesy Ford Sires' Produce on Saturday. Photo / Kenton Wright

Matamata trainer Sam Bergerson is happy to have four runners engaged in the last two Group 1 features of the season, but what doesn’t please him is a worsening weather forecast ahead of the race at Trentham on Saturday.

Having topped the century last weekend for the third time in their three-season partnership, Bergerson and senior partner Mark Walker have Quintessa, Qali Al Farrasha and Captured By Love engaged in Saturday’s Group 1 Listen Live On Sport Nation New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

And Seize The Day is their sole starter as they seek a third consecutive win in the Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatū Sires’ Produce Stakes.

While Bergerson is satisfied that all four horses are in the right form, developing weather will be the final decider on their weekend assignments.

“It wasn’t looking too bad earlier in the week, but every time I’ve checked over the past couple of days the forecast has just got worse,” he said after Trentham fields were released late on Wednesday morning.

“It’s shaping like a repeat of what we were up against in the spring and the frustrating thing is we’ve got no control over it.”

Bergerson and Walker claimed three Group One races last season with Captured By Love in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), the Sistema Stakes (1200m) with Return To Conquer and the Manawatū Sires’ Produce Stakes with La Dorada.

Their 2023-24 tally was four, with Skew Wiff in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m), the Zabeel Classic (2000m) with Campionessa, the Levin Classic (1600m) with Quintessa and the Manawatū Sires’ Produce Stakes with Move To Strike.

Their current season tally stands at two, compliments of Quintessa in the Proisir Plate (1400m) and Lara Antipova in the Sistema Stakes (1200m). That unbeaten filly was scheduled to race at Flemington this weekend, however a temperature spike detected last Saturday meant an early end to her season.

“We’re so looking forward to giving Seize The Day his chance in a Group One over 1400m,” Bergerson said. “This is the race we set him for, he’s got a beautiful big stride that’s made for a roomy track like Trentham, but not a wet Trentham.

“He trialled up well enough on heavy tracks in the spring, but race day in this grade is different and that other colt, Ronaldo, has won his two races on soft and heavy tracks.

“It’s probably less of a worry with our three mares in the Breeders’ Stakes, they’re older and more seasoned, but it’s still far from ideal, we’d much rather be running on good ground.

“With all of our Group One runners, class will take them a long way, but it’s very frustrating as Saturday was meant to be their grand final for the season.

“We’ll just have to keep an eye on things and see what the weather brings before we make a final decision.”

The TAB’s opening final field markets for Trentham have Seize The Day a narrow Manawatū Sires’ Produce Stakes favourite at $3.40 over Ronaldo at $3.50.

In an open market for the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, Quintessa shared favouritism at $7 with Cambridge mare Provence and the Chris Waller-trainer Chica Mojito, while Afternoon Siesta and She’s A Dealer were next at $8 and Captured By Love at $8.50.

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk