Savile Row
Trish Dunell
Kevin Hickman could strengthen his hand for the Gr.1 Sothys 2000 Guineas when Savile Row steps out at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Valachi Downs proprietor bred and races Makfi colt Savile Row, a decisive winner at Avondale in June in his only start leading into Saturday's Gr.3 Manuka Doctor Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).
Hickman already has a leading 2000 Guineas chance as a quarter shareholder in unbeaten Zacinto gelding Ugo Foscolo.
"It would be great if we could get both horses to the 2000 Guineas as live chances," Hickman's racing manager Jonathan Scully said.
"This is what Kevin races horses for."
Savile Row prepared for his season opener with a bold second at the Te Teko trials last month and trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard have reported he has trained on well since.
"They are very excited about him," Scully said.
"It's hard to know exactly where he sits till we get him on the better tracks but to do what he did first time to the races was pretty impressive. He's still got to step up and do it but we've got a good opinion of him.
"He's a big, beautiful horse and he gets over some ground. We expect him to be better on top of the ground but he should be right amongst them on Saturday. We'd be disappointed if he wasn't."
Should Savile Row race up to expectations in the Bonecrusher Stakes, he is likely to progress to the 1400m three-year-old race at Trentham on October 22, the race Xtravagant contested last year before winning the 2000 Guineas.
"He can slowly work his way down to Christchurch. He can have that race and then cross Cook Strait on the ferry," Scully said of plans to have Savile Row peaking for the November 5 Classic at Riccarton.
TAB bookmakers have Savile Row at $26 for the 2000 Guineas, in a market headed by Heroic Valour at $5 and Ugo Foscolo at $6. - NZ Racing Desk
The Valachi Downs proprietor bred and races Makfi colt Savile Row, a decisive winner at Avondale in June in his only start leading into Saturday's Gr.3 Manuka Doctor Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).
Hickman already has a leading 2000 Guineas chance as a quarter shareholder in unbeaten Zacinto gelding Ugo Foscolo.
"It would be great if we could get both horses to the 2000 Guineas as live chances," Hickman's racing manager Jonathan Scully said.
"This is what Kevin races horses for."
Savile Row prepared for his season opener with a bold second at the Te Teko trials last month and trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard have reported he has trained on well since.
"They are very excited about him," Scully said.
"It's hard to know exactly where he sits till we get him on the better tracks but to do what he did first time to the races was pretty impressive. He's still got to step up and do it but we've got a good opinion of him.
"He's a big, beautiful horse and he gets over some ground. We expect him to be better on top of the ground but he should be right amongst them on Saturday. We'd be disappointed if he wasn't."
Should Savile Row race up to expectations in the Bonecrusher Stakes, he is likely to progress to the 1400m three-year-old race at Trentham on October 22, the race Xtravagant contested last year before winning the 2000 Guineas.
"He can slowly work his way down to Christchurch. He can have that race and then cross Cook Strait on the ferry," Scully said of plans to have Savile Row peaking for the November 5 Classic at Riccarton.
TAB bookmakers have Savile Row at $26 for the 2000 Guineas, in a market headed by Heroic Valour at $5 and Ugo Foscolo at $6. - NZ Racing Desk