Stable turning back distance clock with Waitak

[Wandering Eyes]

Top-flight sprinter-miler Waitak will draw on his powers of versatility when he steps up in trip at Trentham on Saturday.

The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained son of Proisir will be among the favoured contenders in Saturday’s Gr.2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m) following his return to winning form at his most recent appearance.

Waitak was untroubled earlier this month to claim the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga following a prolonged and successful sprinting career highlighted by his Gr.1 Railway (1200m) victory.

“He’s got a good base of fitness now with a couple of more recent mile races, he’s settling well and racing like he can head out to the middle distance,” Scott said.

“It will give us further options with him next season if he runs it out strongly. We would probably have liked it to be 2000m rather than 2100m, but we’ll take the hand that’s dealt.

“He’s been training well and is in really good condition.”

It won’t be a trip into the unknown for Waitak, who finished runner-up at three in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and was fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

“He went down by the barest of margins in the Guineas and ran well in the Derby so there are some form lines there,” Scott said.

“After this trip away, we will probably look to give him a well-deserved break. He’s done a good job and has raced well without a lot of luck.”

Waitak will be accompanied south by Desert Mystic (intowin.co.nz, 1600m) and Phoebe Buffay (Herrick Perry Memorial, 1400m).

“Desert Mystic is in really good form and he’s been a horse that has gained a lot of confidence this season,” Scott said.

“He is strong at the mile and he will have to carry a wee bit of weight (60.5kg), but we’re expecting another competitive performance from him.”

Desert Mystic won three on the bounce before a last-start third at Matamata where he missed the jump and lost a hind plate during the race.

Phoebe Buffay is also in good touch and followed up her maiden success with a solid third at Te Rapa.

“She looks like she’s well-placed and has been freshened since her last run. She’s good at 1400m and is in a good place,” Scott said.

The stable will also be well represented at Te Aroha on Saturday and Scott suggested Miss Bo Beep (Manco Handicap, 1150m) and The Weapon (Te Aroha Plumbing & Drainage 2022, 1400m) to be among their leading hopes.

“We’re looking forward to Miss Bo Peep making her first start in the open grade, we think she’s a promising sprinter and should race really well,” Scott said.

She has won three of her six starts while The Weapon hit the line strongly for second when resuming at Taupo last month.

“His first run back was encouraging, and we think he’s gone the right way since,” he said. “Some of his three-year-old form was quite good and we’ve taken our time with him.”

View the full article