Trainer John Bary is confident that Recite is on track for the 2014 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday after she performed strongly at trackwork at Flemington this morning.
Stephen Baster has been booked to Recite in the 2014 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Recite arrived in Australia last week after returning to a semblance of her best form with a close third in The Winning Edge Cup (1200m) at Hastings on September 20 and Bary told Racing Ahead that the Darci Brahma mare had settled in nicely.
The four-year-old worked alongside Caulfield Guineas contender Our Vespa this morning and Bary said that both himself and jockey Stephen Baster were happy with the effort of the talented mare ahead of the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) this weekend.
“She flew over last week and she settled in very well,” Bary said.
“I was thrilled with her.
“She was on the course proper, Stephen Baster rode her and they got on really well and he liked what he felt.
“She is pretty easy to ride, pretty push button and I was really happy with her.
“She only has 53, so everything is bound to go in the right direction.”
Recite started her spring preparation over 1400 metres in the Group 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings on August 30 and suffered a minor injury in the run before she dropped back to 1200 metres for the Winning Edge Cup.
Bary does not believe that the significant step-up in trip to 1600 metres will be an issue for Recite and he confirmed that she was showing no signs of still being plagued by the pulled muscle suffered in the Makfi Challenge Stakes.
“She obviously pulled a muscle in the Makfi and the jockey sat up and looked after her,” Bary said.
“She got over that and she was very good in the Winning Edge Cup.
“She came through that well and he work has been top notch since.
“She is naturally a fit mare.
“She was fresh up in the 1400 and she went back to the 12 just because I missed a couple of gallops.
“Since then she has raced and hasn’t missed any work.
“She doesn’t take a lot to keep her up to the mark.”
Recite was the star two-year-old in New Zealand last year, taking out the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni in March, and she was able to maintain that form as a three-year-old.
The talented mare took out the Group 1 Ocean Park Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January and won the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 5 before making her Australian racing debut with a disappointing performance in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
Recite will make her Melbourne racing debut in the Toorak Handicap this weekend before she contests the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
