Two in the Group 2.
There will be a special moment for Go Racing and the ‘Lyrical’ and ‘The Ace’ syndicates on Saturday afternoon, when Lyrics Way and Passing Shot both line up in the $100,000 Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham.
It is an achievement in itself to have one runner in a group race, and whilst it is remarkable having two, according to syndicate manager Albert Bosma, it is no fluke.
“We spend a lot of time at the sales and throughout the year looking for horses that will give our owners the best chance of success. We are proud of the fact that we have two runners in The Wakefield Challenge Stakes and it proves the hours we spend looking at a particular horse prior to purchasing it, is time well spent. When we purchased both of these horses, we thought they would run as two year olds and we couldn’t be happier with the way it’s worked out. We are thrilled for both syndicates and I know they will get a big thrill out of having their horse in the race. I wish them both, all the best for tomorrow”.
Passing Shot will be having his fourth race day start when he lines up tomorrow, and whilst he has not always had the best of luck, tomorrow gives him a chance to turn this around. In a small field of only eight runners he should get his chance on the big Trentham track to show his true form. Mark Du Plesis who rides Trentham well, takes the reins for the first time and we are hoping the change of jockey, also brings a change in fortune.
“He is a fantastic looking horse that looks a lot like his father, Swiss Ace and we liked him from the moment we saw him. He has an excellent turn of foot and we are expecting a forward showing on Saturday. He has drawn well and this will allow us to be flexible with how we ride him”, Albert says.
Lyrics Way will be having just her second race day start, and whilst she will lack for a bit of experience, her manners and maturity will more than make up for that. She debuted at Woodville on the 4th of January and was a touch unlucky when running 2nd. She has taken a lot of improvement out of her debut effort and whilst she is one of the outsiders of the race, Albert firmly believes she is deserving of her place in the field.
“Her debut effort was full of merit. She didn’t have all favours in the race and she could easily have a ‘1’ beside her name instead of a ‘2’. She is a filly that has a fantastic attitude and has come a long way in a short time. The progeny of her sire, Thewayyouare are firing and we think she is a filly with a big future. She deserves her place in the field, and the opposition will certainly know she is there.
The Wakefield Challenge Stakes is at 1:51pm on Saturday, and whilst there has never been a dead heat for first in the race, we think tomorrow would be a good time for it to happen. Good luck to both the ‘Lyrical’ and ‘The Ace’ syndicates.