Options for Guineas favourite’s next start

The team behind exciting three-year-old prospect Embellish are plotting their final move toward Christchurch. On the strength of an impressive last-start maiden win, the WS-bred and sold colt is the current pre-post favourite for next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Christchurch.

“We’re weighing up what we do next, there’s only time for one more run,” said Jamie Richards, who trains Embellish with Stephen Autridge. “He could either go to the Sarten Memorial or we find an easier option and we’ll make that decision in the next 10 days.”

Currently at $8 and the only three-year-old in single figures for the Riccarton classic, the son of Savabeel leapfrogged to the top of the market following his breakthrough success at Ruakaka earlier this month. “We were very pleased with the way he won and once he came to the outside he showed a good turn of foot,” Richards said.

Purchased at Karaka by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis for $775,000 out of WS’s 2016 draft, Embellish is out of the O’Reilly mare Bling and he’s a brother to the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes winner Diademe. “He was bought as a stallion so he needs to win the big races,” Richards said.