Prise De Fer will attempt to continue his picket fence formline in the Gr.3 Powerworx Taranaki Cup (1800m) on Saturday.
Purchased by Ellis for $100,000 out of Trelawney Stud’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale draft, Prise De Fer has hit a purple patch of form as a four-year-old.
He kicked off the season with a third-placing over 1300m at Taupo before winning four on-end, culminating with victory in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
“He was given a lovely ride three-deep with a bit of cover in the Rich Hill Mile, he had a nice light weight and I thought he did it pretty impressively,” Richards said.
“We are happy with him. He has had a bit of time between runs, which he seems to enjoy.”
The Savabeel gelding worked with Probabeel at Ellerslie last week and Richards believes he is on song ahead of Saturday’s assignment.
“He went up to Ellerslie and worked with Probabeel on Monday-week ago and he worked nicely,” Richards said.
“He jumps up a little bit in weight with the set-weights and penalties conditions of the race on Saturday, but I thought it suited him better than going to the Herbie Dyke (Gr.1, 2000m) at weight-for-age.
“He has drawn a bit awkwardly (11), but we think he is going well and he is going to be very competitive.” -NZ Racing Desk