Skew Wiff in top order for Australia
Group One winner Skew Wiff enjoyed a quiet exhibition gallop between races on her home track at Matamata on Wednesday afternoon.
The Waikato Stud-bred and raced daughter of Savabeel worked steadily over 1000 metres in 1:08s and the last 600 in 40.8s to the satisfaction of rider Opie Bosson.
“She was nice and relaxed for her and feels good,” he said.
Placed twice at the elite level last season, Skew Wiff’s last-start victory in the G1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings has earned her a trip across the Tasman.
“It’s good to keep her mind ticking over and we might give her another exhibition at Te Rapa (on Friday week),” co-trainer Mark Walker said.
Skew Wiff is scheduled to fly to Australia on October 3 to join Te Akau’s stable at Cranbourne and prepare for the G2 Rose of Kingston S. at Flemington four days later.
“She’s valuable already, but if she gets black type there and potentially a Group race win then she’s worth a lot of money to Waikato Stud,” Walker said.
“If she runs up to scratch at Flemington then she’ll go up to Sydney for the Golden Eagle, that’s the plan.
“With the set-up now at Cranbourne, it’s good we can facilitate these races and options.”
Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek
Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.
Read More
The Corner with Garry Chittick
And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.
Read More