Racing: 2000 Guineas the target for group one winner

Sword of Osman left trainer Jamie Richards happy at Te Teko yesterday. Photo / Trish Dunell

Group One winner Sword Of Osman got the thumbs up from trainer Jamie Richards after a pleasing fresh-up trial at Te Teko yesterday.

In the hands of Opie Bosson, Sword Of Osman contested an open 840m heat and, after settling last and under a tight rein, he was taken to the outside in the run home and was doing his best work over the final stages to finish a close fourth to Stella Noire.

"We were pretty keen to go back off the wide gate today and try and switch him off a bit," Richards said. "He tracked up nicely into the race.

"He will come back in a fortnight and trial again then we'll decide whether he goes to the South Island or stays north."

The winner of last season's group one Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie, the son of Savabeel is being aimed at the group one Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 10.

"Riccarton is the goal for him and you'd have to be very pleased with how he's coming up," Richards said.

Te Akau Shark finished fourth in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas last season after winning his other two starts and he too was put through his paces by Bosson at Te Teko.

Like Sword Of Osman, he was restrained back in the field. He ran on strongly from fifth at the 250m to finish at the head of the field alongside Group One winner Jon Snow in the first of the 1030m open heats.

"He also trialled at Te Rapa three or four weeks ago so he was allowed to do a bit more here today," Richards said. "That will tidy him up nicely."

Te Akau Shark, a son of Rip Van Winkle, will resume in a Rating 82 1200m at Hastings on September 1.

Mongolianconqueror and Swing Note, another couple of Te Akau Racing's talented four-year-olds, also had hit-outs at Te Teko. Mongolianconqueror, the runner-up to Vin De Dance in the group one New Zealand Derby (2400m), made his first public appearance since finishing seventh in the group one ATC Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 7 and wasn't expected to do much in the first of the open 840m heats.

He settled fourth for Bosson, but couldn't sprint with the others when the pace went on inside the last 300m and wasn't pushed when second-last in the trial won by Masked.

"It was well short of his best but he's coming up quietly," Richards said. "He will come back here in a fortnight and trial again, then we'll pick out a suitable programme for him."

Swing Note, twice a stakes-placegetter last season, followed up a trials win at Te Rapa last month with another solid effort, settling back and running on late to just fail to get up in her 1030m trial.

"She was good," Richards said. "She poked through late. She's on her way to the South Island to try and earn some more black-type.

"She has strengthened up nicely from three to four and looks to be going the right way."

- NZ Racing Desk