Lara Antipova has been brilliant in winning both her starts so far. Photo / Peter Rubery
TODAY’S BLACK TYPE MEETINGS
** Matamata, Breeders Stakes Day, first race 12.20pm
** Invercargill, Southland Guineas Day, first race 12.07pm
** Flemington, Black Caviar Stakes, first race 2.05pm (NZ time)
** Randwick, Apollo Stakes, first race 2.20pm (NZ time)
** Melton, Hunter Cup/Great Southern Star, first race 8.02pm
The greatest threat to Lara Antipova’s unbeaten record at Matamata today may be the weather.
While co-trainer Sam Bergerson has no doubts about his filly’s class or condition heading into the $225,000 J Swap Breeders Stakes, the possibility of a wet track worries him.
Lara Antipova has flown under the radar this summer, spending much of it on ice since two brilliant wins, because she wasn’t eligible for the Karaka Millions.
She returns now to a 2-year-old crop still looking for its star and with the Group 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie on March 7 as her season-defining aim.
Which is why Bergerson says she will be starting on her home track today even if it becomes wetter than he would like.
“We have a lot of rain forecast later today and we’d prefer we don’t get too much,” he said yesterday.
“We know she is a very good filly on top of the ground but, if the rain was heavy overnight and we ended up on a really wet track, then we’d be stepping into the unknown.
“But because she has the Sistema in three weeks and will need a run, she will be starting regardless.”
Heavy rain is about Bergerson’s only worry, however, as he is thrilled with Lara Antipova’s work since she was given a let-up after two stunning wins to start her career.
She gets newly minted “Mr 100 Group 1 wins” Opie Bosson on board today and, even though the field contains some sharp fillies, Lara Antipova (named after the Doctor Zhivago heroine) has been heavily backed from $1.65 into $1.30.
Bergerson and the Te Akau team aren’t quite so confident heading into today’s other 2-year-old feature, the $150,000 Fairview Slipper, with Kinnaird and Out Of The Blue.
“We really aren’t sure how Kinnaird would handle any cut in the ground, but we are happy with him overall.
“He didn’t enjoy being back on the inside with the blinkers on in the Karaka Millions, but has come through that okay and worked up well with Lara last week.
“But if it did get wet, then Out Of The Blue could be our smokey, as he was very good on the clock in the Karaka Millions from a wide draw.”
That pair clash with the talented Harvey Wallbanger in the male juvenile feature.
Away from the 2-year-olds, there is plenty of older equine firepower on show today.
Perhaps the most interesting is Belle Cheval, who takes on older mares for Bergerson in the Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes.
Belle Cheval is using the race as her stepping stone to the $4 million NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie on March 7, and Bergerson admits it is a giant step up.
“For a filly who has only had a handful of starts to be taking on proven black-type mares, it’s a huge ask, but we think this is the best race to get her ready for the Kiwi.
“We know she is very good, but we will know even more after this race.”
Bergerson also has last season’s NZ 1000 Guineas winner Captured By Love in that race. He says he is willing to forgive her last start, but would like to see improvement heading to the Cuddle Stakes and ultimately the Group 1 of the NZ Breeders late next month.
The Comag Wairere Falls Classic over 1500m is a wonderful betting race and could be the feature of the day that would be most changed by a wetter track, as that could stretch some of the natural sprinters too far out of their comfort zones.
The $100,000 Kaimai Stakes sees two high-class 4-year-olds in Checkmate and Shes A Dealer step up to 2000m after racing like they will relish that, with Checkmate perhaps the better chance on his home track.
Unbeaten mare Autumn Glow will be the star attraction against New Zealand-raised Ceolwulf in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick.
And in Melbourne, young sprinting sensation Tentyris takes on the older horses led by Giga Kick in the Black Caviar at Flemington.
For those who can keep the punting enthusiasm going until 10.35pm, the Hunter Cup at Melton brings together Leap To Fame, Swayzee, Kingman and Kiwi rep Republican Party in one of harness racing’s races of the year.
Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.