The Telegraph Handicap is New Zealand’s premier Group 1 sprint race at a distance of 1200 metres at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington. It is to be run at 2:40pm (AEDT) on Saturday, and is the best quality race run in Australasia this weekend.
It is basically a dress rehearsal of the Railway Stakes run at Ellerslie two weeks ago, only this time run on a left-handed (anticlockwise) track with a few other quality horses engaged.
The first thing you notice is that the spread of the weights isn’t that great, the top-weighted horse only having to carry six kilograms more than the horse at the bottom of the weights.
That makes it just that little bit easier for the proven quality performers to shine, providing their form is good enough coming into the race.
The second thing is that the race has a lot of on-pace runners (Allez Eagle, In Style, Statham, Vespa, Adventador and Passing Shot) who are all capable of making the lead. The likes of Ryan Mark and Miss Seton Sands will also be quite close to what should be a faster than average tempo.
For that reason it seems more likely that the race will be won by something racing off the pace, and perhaps those who settle back from wide barriers won’t be at as much of a disadvantage as first thought.
The horse they all have to beat is the top weight Sacred Star. He won this race last year with two kilograms less, by a widening four-length margin and in very fast time. He resumed in the Railway and was very unlucky to strike a wet surface, which really isn’t his preference.
Sacred Star meets the winner of that race Ryan Mark, two kilograms better, and the runner-up and third placegetter on the same weight terms. Given a dry track, he should have little problem in beating all three horses this time around, and the high speed of the race is going to suit him.
Ryan Mark has to be respected with his terrific strike rate and ability to race on or near the pace. He is a bit injury prone and some give in the track would assist. No knock on his jockey Matt Cameron, but Opie Bosson won on him last start to create a prefect 4/4 record but isn’t aboard for this.
He is yet to start at this track but is 5-3/9 on left-handed tracks which tells you almost all you need to know about the horse. He is a tremendously consistent animal and should be considered in all multis from an ideal barrier.
Natuzzi is a very hard horse to catch but is another competitor who will appreciate a fast speed. He has a terrific record at this track (2-1/4), and any give in the surface will help. He will have to go back from a wide barrier but if he is close enough on the turn he should be competitive.
Vespa is 2/2 at this track and 1200 metres first-up is a good distance for him, but a wide barrier and other pace around him have me a little concerned in regard to him obtaining an economical enough run in the race to win. A sensible ride from just behind the pace could pay dividends though.
Scapolo is an interesting runner coming into the race coming off about two months off. His first-up record (three months between runs) is incredibly good (6-3/9) so we should assume he has been kept nice and fresh for this. If the track rating was slow or heavy (10/13) he would be top pick, but his dry-track statistics pale a little in comparison (4/24).
Scapolo will appreciate a fast tempo, though, and he meets Ryan Mark 2.5 kilograms better for their last meeting in October, which was on a dry surface first up. That formline and weight comparison gives him a real chance of winning at a value price, although he does have to overcome a very wide barrier in a bid to win this.
Soubrettes is a classy High Chaparral mare whom we haven’t really seen the best of since late 2014. She actually started favourite in this race last year, had every chance, but failed to show her normal dash in the straight.
It’s very interesting that blinkers go on her for the first time here, and she should also appreciate a fast pace. Barrier 12 is probably not ideal, but she is the type of horse who could slot into a midfield position behind all the on pace runners. She is yet to really prove herself at the top level, but her price of $12 with the gear change is decent value to find out if she can rise to the occasion.
Recite is another mare the same age as Soubrettes (five-year-old) but proved herself winning at Group 1 level as a three-year-old. She looks the best weighted horse in the race with 53 kilograms, given she beat Ryan Mark the last time they met in October.
She has a 4.5-kilogram weight differential on that horse in this race and also meets Allez Eagle four kilograms better for a narrow defeat in that same race. This race has been specifically targeted and her last start run can be excused as she was apparently in season at the time.
She is a three-time winner at this track, can position just behind the pace, and only has to overcome a wide barrier to be very competitive at a double figure price.
Summary
Recite might be the only horse that can defeat Sacred Star under this weight scale, providing she returns to her very best form. I’m looking forward to seeing what Soubrettes can do with the blinkers on and expecting big runs from the likes of Scapolo, Vespa and Ryan Mark. Natuzzi can certainly figure if he runs to his last effort.
1. Recite
2. Sacred Star
3. Soubrettes
4. Vespa
Bet suggestion
I’m keen to be on the two mares Recite and Soubrettes at anticipated double-figure prices, but will be boxing a trifecta to at least include Sacred Star.
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