Cambridge partnership hunting Jericho Cup berth

[Wandering Eyes]

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray teamed up with The Oaks Stud two years ago to win the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool with Nassak Diamond, and they are hoping to do the same this year with Tempest Moon.

The Cambridge trainers have trekked south to Christchurch with the five-year-old daughter of Turn Me Loose where they will try and gain a berth in next month’s marathon feature when they contest the NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

The winner gains an automatic entry into the Jericho Cup, and with their past success in the race, her connections are keen to contest it once more.

“Rick Williams (The Oaks Stud General Manager) and I don’t mind going to Warrnambool,” Ritchie quipped.

“We have had a great time with Where Are You when she was 100-1 and ran third. We realised it is a great race to win with Nassak Diamond a couple of years ago. If we can get another starter over there, we will be tickled pink.

“We will be doing our absolute best to try and get her to that Jericho Cup.”

Tempest Moon heads into Saturday in good form, having won over 2100m at Te Aroha last month before running fourth in the Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupo.

“I thought her run at Taupo was exceptional,” Ritchie said. “She is probably running into horses that are better performed on wetter tracks and she doesn’t mind it firmer.

“She just got caught on the corner and got shuffled one or two spots further back than George (Rooke, jockey) would have liked, but she certainly rocketed home.

“She is going to love Riccarton.”

Closer to their Cambridge base, the stable are looking forward to the debut of Cambridge Stud filly Sovrana in the TAB 1400 at Ellerslie.

The three-year-old daughter of Reliable Man has placed in both of her trials to date, and Ritchie believes she is capable of some lofty targets later this season.

“It is not easy having your debut at Ellerslie, they usually get strong fields and this one is no different,” he said.

“She has drawn the bullet (1), and I see her as a lovely staying filly, she may even develop into an Oaks filly.

“You can’t suggest that she may be an Oaks filly and not expect some form of performance, but I will also expect 1400m would be well short of her best. Having said that, she has got a touch of class about her and I think she will run a cheeky race if she can get the breaks.”

View the full article