Trainer Joe Pride can see Terravista taking advantage of his good barrier draw and settling in the first half of the field in the Group 1 $400,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Terravista, orange, will take on Chautauqua, purple and yellow, again in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman will be aboard Terravista again after the pair finished third to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 6, the postponed first day of ‘The Championships’.
The Captain Rio five year old settled back near the tail of the field from a wide gate and Pride wouldn’t mind seeing him sitting on the leader’s heels from barrier two on Saturday.
“I wouldn’t be too bold on him but I think we can be in the first half of the field,” Pride told AAP
“Having a bit of a head start (on Chautauqua) could play a vital role.”
The Team Hawkes trained Chautauqua looks the one to beat again after the grey came from behind Terravista on the home turn to pass him in the run to the line to record his first Group 1 victory.
Terravista was sent out the $2.60 favourite in the T J Smith Stakes and Pride admits that he was a little disappointed with the result.
“I don’t want to make too many excuses for him because I thought he was a bit disappointing,” Pride said.
“But you can find them if you look hard enough.”
Both Terravista and Chautauqua have recorded wins over 1400m in weaker company earlier in their careers and Pride thinks it is the right time to step his stable star up in distance again.
“I always wanted to give it a go at the end of this prep, that was always the plan and nothing has changed my mind,” Pride said.
“I just want to see if he is as effective as he is at 1200.
“There are plenty of sprinters who don’t quite see the 1400 out so it will be interesting to line them both up.”
Terravista has finished behind the Hawkes trained sprinter twice during the Autumn and as well as his third in the T J Smith Stakes was third behind Brazen Beau and Chautauqua in the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 14.
But Terravista had the better of the grey when they finished first and second in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The All Aged Stakes market order at Ladbtokes.com.au has Chautauqua the $3.10 favourite to win back to back Group 1s, ahead of Terravista at $5.50.
William Reid winner Lucky Hussler is next in the betting at $6.50 ahead of the three year olds Shooting To Win at $7.50 and Wandjina at $8.50.
All Aged Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.10 Chautauqua, $5.50 Terravista, $6.50 Lucky Hussler, $7.50 Shooting To Win, $8.50 Wandjina, $10 Dissident, $15 Scissor Kick, $21 Generalife, $26 Rebel Dane, $41 Laser Hawk, Fontelina, $51 Famous Seamus, $61 Weary.
