Group One target in the offing for Bedtime Story

[Wandering Eyes]

Consistent mare Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto) could be in line for a tilt at elite-level if she performs up to expectations in the Manawatu ITM 1340 at Wanganui on Saturday.

The five-year-old daughter of Per Incanto has hardly put a foot wrong so far in her 17-start career, and while she has placed in the Listed ANZAC Mile (1600m) and Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), a black-type victory remains elusive.

She resumed this preparation in her customary fashion, running fourth in both of her starts this time in, including first-up in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m).

Trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos have been pleased with her progression and are hoping for another solid performance this weekend before setting their sights towards Trentham next month where the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) looms as her primary objective.

“She is a pretty consistent horse and she is going well,” Zydenbos said. “She is having a nice tick over run to prepare her for the Wellington Carnival where there are a few different options for her, with the TAB Mufhasa Classic being the main one.

“She has had plenty of black-type placings and it would be good to get a black-type win.”

Bedtime Story looks to be a good chance in her 1340m assignment this weekend, for which she is a $2.60 favourite with TAB bookmakers.

“She gets in well in the weights with Spencer being the top weight,” Zydenbos said. “We are claiming a couple of kilos with apprentice Liam Kauri, and she has got a nice draw (2), so she looks to be competitive.”

The stable will also head to Wanganui with Waft, who will be seeking to recapture form in the Wanganui Insurance Brokers Maiden (1340m) where she will be ridden by in-form hoop Bruno Queiroz.

“Waft has shown plenty of promise at home,” Zydenbos said. “She did run a nice second at Wanganui a couple of starts back, so it is good to get her back at the venue. She has also got a nice barrier to jump from (3).”

Looking ahead to summer racing, Zydenbos is particularly excited about the prospects of three-year-old gelding Zorero (NZ) (Per Incanto) who was impressive when winning on debut by 2-1/2 lengths at Waipukurau last weekend.

Zydenbos has plenty of time for the JML Bloodstock-bred and raced son of Per Incanto, who is being set towards the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Millions night.

“Zorero was pretty impressive at Waipukurau on Sunday. He has come through his run well and he is a horse to watch,” she said.

“He will have a start in a three-year-old set weights and penalties race at Trentham in early December and then he is looking to be on a path towards the Almanzor.”

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