Racing: Guiseppina ready to tackle stars

Guiseppina faces a stern test at Te Aroha tomorrow. Photo / APN

You could never overstate the magnitude of the task facing Guiseppina in tomorrow's $200,000 Stewart Browne GRP Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha.

To win a group one race only two starts out from one-win grade is a task way beyond almost any horse you can think of.

Guiseppina made going from R80 to open class look easy at Manawatu last Saturday, but she carried the lowest weight at 53kg and this time meets group one winners at level weights.

Assisting Guiseppina in her mission impossible has been the fact that she's so good she has been having very easy races, thereby allowing the scope for continual improvement.

"She's kept improving after every race and James [McDonald] came out this morning and gave her a quiet gallop and said he was very happy with her," said co-trainer Steven Ramsay yesterday.

This time, Guiseppina faces group one-winning mare Keep The Peace.

There is history. When Keep The Peace made her debut at Taupo in September 2009, trainer Shaune Ritchie told the owners she was a good thing, but she was beaten a neck.

"Guiseppina beat her and now I know why," said Ritchie yesterday.

Soon after, Guiseppina went amiss and had 17 months away from racing.

Keep The Peace went on to win the Oaks and a Mudgway Stakes, but failed badly in the 2000m Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill last start.

"Perhaps 1600m is as far as she needs to go now she's 4, particularly when the ground is wet.

"She's been checked over by vets in Australia and here and there is no physical reason why she shouldn't run this week."

The right-handed track adds another dimension to the race.

Guiseppina has not raced this way around and Keep The Peace has had three attempts. "She won her maiden race at Avondale against a field she could beat running backwards, so that alone is not a great guide, then she failed in the AJC Derby and the Ranvet last start," said Ritchie.

"Perhaps those two can be put down to the distance and not running as well away from home."

The barrier draws - Keep The Peace No 2, Guiseppina No 16 - could be a factor, even allowing for a long run down the Te Aroha back straight from the 1600m start.

Trainer John Sargent does not see it as a disaster that James McDonald will not be riding his filly Banchee.

Banchee races in the same ownership as Guiseppina, that of Peter and Philip Vela.

"Vinny [Colgan] knows the filly well."

Colgan was the original rider of Banchee. He won on her in her debut in December 2009 and was on again next start when she finished second in the group three Eclipse Stakes.

He also handled Banchee in her Cambridge barrier trial victory on March 24.

At her last race start, Banchee struck trouble in the home straight and her 12th placing in the Avondale Guineas can be ignored.

The start before she beat the Avondale Guineas winner Icepin in the New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Mile.

She was allowed to miss the Derby because of the very wet track and Sargent says he has her back to exactly where he wants her.

"She's back to where she was when she was winning those Ellerslie races.

"This is a very strong field and luck in running is going to play a big part."