Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Impendabelle came ever so close to picking up a maiden Group One crown at Riccarton last November, and Tony Pike is hoping the filly can go one better in Saturday’s Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Levin Classic (1600m).
Excusing her last-start seventh behind Pendragon in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) on Boxing Day, the daughter of Impending has been ultra-consistent through her three-year-old campaign and was only caught by Molly Bloom in the final strides of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) the start prior.
With Group Two victories in the Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) already to her credit, Impendabelle heads into the Trentham three-year-old feature an ominous chance as an $10 equal fifth-favourite, with Mary Shan topping the TAB Futures market at $3.50.
“She’s probably a little bit the forgotten about horse, she’s in great form and she’s proven at Group One level. I think she can run extremely well on Saturday,” Pike said.
“She’s bounced through the Auckland Guineas really well. It probably wasn’t Kozzi’s (Asano, jockey) best work up there, she got a long way back which wasn’t ideal, and went to that slower inside part of the track, but her closing sectionals were some of the best in the race,” Pike said.
While several possible Levin Classic race rivals are heading straight to the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Pike opted to give Impendabelle an opportunity for elite-level success at Trentham with a broodmare future in mind.
However, the Cambridge horseman hasn’t ruled out an appearance in the $1.5 million spectacle at Ellerslie a fortnight later.
“She’s a valuable filly and getting a Group One would continue to enhance that,” he said.
“She’s come through Pukekohe well and it probably wasn’t an overly hard run, so we’re hoping to get that Group One with her on Saturday and if she pulled up well we would possibly consider running in the Karaka Million 3YO two weeks’ later. That would be the end of her preparation.”
Pike’s stable will also be represented in the headline event on the card, with Not Guilty having her first top-flight start in the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m).
The five-year-old has proven to be somewhat of a straight-track specialist over recent campaigns, with multiple placings down the Trentham dogleg, including in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) behind race-rival Maria Farina in March.
A daughter of Not A Single Doubt, Not Guilty broke her stakes-level bridesmaid’s streak with a classy Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) victory down the Riccarton chute in November, and heads into Saturday’s feature off the back of a fifth-placed run behind Imprevu at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.
“Her run at Pukekohe was probably better than the placing suggested,” Pike said.
“She went a long way back from the barrier draw, went to the inside, which was the slower part of the track, and made up really good ground late.”
Pike’s last triumph in the time-honoured Telegraph came in emphatic style with Sacred Star in 2015, and he has faith that Not Guilty can put in a strong bid when the mare contests the likes of Dragon Leap and Bonny Lass.
“She is proven down the straight at Trentham, obviously it is a step-up to Group One company, but she is a valuable mare who is very well-bred and has a stakes win to her name,” he said.
“She galloped really well at Ellerslie this morning and she definitely has the ability to at least gain a Group One placing, which would further enhance her broodmare value.”
Before chasing the Trentham riches over the weekend, Pike will have several runners aiming to break maiden status closer to home at Matamata on Wednesday.
Unfortunate barrier draws will see Poetic Justice and Peachy Keen head to Te Rapa next week, however, the stable will prepare Per Incanto three-year-old Awatere in the Elsdon Park 1600.
“He’s probably been a bit new and green in his last two starts, so we’ve put the blinkers on for Wednesday and the mile at Matamata will suit him,” Pike said.
“The good barrier draw (7) should see him not get so far back, and he’s an improving three-year-old that should be an each-way chance.”
Earlier on the eight-race card, Michael McNab will partner each of Centenario and Full Moon Fever, the latter looking to be a key chance in the Rich Hill Stud at Karaka 2024 1400 after finishing runner-up when resuming at Te Rapa.
“He’s been in good form, he’s due to win a race and his fresh-up run was encouraging at Te Rapa. He’s drawn gate one, so he should get a lovely trip in transit,” Pike said.
“Centenario got caught very wide at Taranaki with the rail out a long way last-start, and it was probably a better run than it looked. He’s a genuine staying three-year-old and it should be a nice race for him to break his maiden.”
Mendelssohn filly Pax Mundi completes Pike’s cohort, jumping from an awkward draw of 13 in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1600m) in the hands of Craig Grylls.
“She got a long way back at Rotorua, was held up, and never really got into the race there after some good form,” Pike said. “She’s drawn a bit wide but the step-up to the mile will suit, she’ll roll forward from a wide gate and is another due a winning turn.”
