Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Brent and Cherry Taylor are gearing up for a big Saturday of racing where four horses will contest stakes races while carrying the Trelawney Stud silks.
On the domestic front they have three runners at Te Rapa. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Two Illicit will contest the Gr.2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) while stablemate Cheaperthandivorce lines up in the Gr.3 Franklin Auctions Counties Cup (2100m).
Rounding out the trio is Vamos Bebe in the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m).
Across the Tasman all eyes will be on the Ben and JD Hayes-trained Zayydani who tackles the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m).
“She was our first winner for the partnership, out first stakes winner, and now she is our first Group Two winner,” Ben Hayes told RSN927.
“She has been a very special horse for the stable, and for JD and I.
“She is a pleasure to train and has only improved as she has gotten older, we have had a lot of fun with her.”
The daughter of Savabeel was victorious last start in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).
“It was a fantastic ride by Luke (Nolen, jockey),” Hayes said. “We rode her for luck and we got all the luck and it is great to win a race like that. It is a big thrill for JD and I.
“She has come through the run in great order and we can’t fault her here. She worked excellent on Tuesday. We will need to ride her for luck again, she has drawn barrier one.”
With an improving track at Ballarat, Hayes is looking forward to his mare competing on a firm surface.
“I think the drier the better for her,” he said. “Her form on wet tracks is good, she definitely handles it, but her dry track form is the most superior. I am hoping the track is a Good4.
“She gets in nicely (on Saturday). Being a mare, she gets the mare’s allowance. I think it is a very competitive Ballarat Cup, there are some nice horses.
“I think she has shown nice improvement, so hopefully we can get another win with her and get a nice win for Trelawney Stud and Brent and Cherry.”
The Taylors are also looking forward to the return of Samiam Seussie who contest the SkyCity Hamilton - Open @ Level 2 1200,
The daughter of Hinchinbrook was a winner in Sydney before injury curtailed her campaign. She has had two trials since arriving in New Zealand out of Tony Pike's stable and looks like she will deliver a strong showing.