The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained colt is clearly the leading chance among just three South Island horses who will attempt to hold their own against nine classy northern raiders.
Sensei is among five colts who would boost their credentials for a stud career should they win the group 1 1600m feature for 3yr-olds. That is exactly what Michael Pitman wants to achieve with his charge, but not just to boost his horse’s value off the track.
Sensei is named in honour of Pitman’s son, Jonny, a New Zealand representative in judo and taekwondo who died suddenly in 2013.
A stud career would ensure that Sensei’s special connection with Jonny would be stamped in the thoroughbred history books.
"That’s why I want to win the race so that my son’s name will live on. It would be very special."
Michael Pitman has no doubt his striking Dream Ahead colt can measure up.
"He runs times that no other horse I have had has been able to do and he takes time off his personal best every second morning.
"He has proven he can run the times and he has proven he can do it on good ground, unlike some of the others."
The North Islanders are headed by race favourite Embellish, who has the glowing endorsement of being chosen by rider Opie Bosson over two other Te Akau stable runners, Te Akau Shark and and Age Of Fire. Embellish comes into the $500,000 race after beating older horses at Trentham two weeks ago.
Prior to that the Savabeel colt held a long-neck advantage over tomorrow’s third-favourite, Ever Loyal, at Ruakaka.
The Tony Pike-trained Every Loyal has since won twice, including in listed company at Riccarton two weeks ago.
Pike also has the Hawkes Bay Guineas runner-up, Bostonian, in the race. The Te Akau stable of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards also has the favourite,
Grazia, for tomorrow’s 2500m Metropolitan Trophy.
The Savabeel mare was an impressive last-start winner over tomorrow’ second-favourite, Aspen Lass, in the group 3 Spring Classic at Riccarton two weeks ago.
The favoured pair will clash with lightly raced 6yr-old Bee Tee Junior in the traditional lead-up to the 3200m New Zealand Cup. The horse goes into the race in good order, his Cambridge trainer, trainer Shaune Ritchie, said.
"He’s travelled down well and I’m expecting a good performance from him on the weekend. He’s not as well off in the weights this week, but it’s not a big field and he will love the 2500m distance of the race.
"He appeals as the type to appreciate the big Riccarton track, although my only concern is that it doesn’t get too hard underfoot on the day," Ritchie said.
Possibly the best chance of Otago claiming a win in a feature race tomorrow could come in the listed Pegasus Stakes over 1000m in which local jockey Courtney Barnes rides the progressive Dressedtokill for trainer Pam Robson.
The horse’s form has largely come on rain-affected ground and in lesser company than she will meet tomorrow, but Barnes is confident the horse can measure up.
"I don’t think she will mind good ground, fresh up. I definitely think she will measure up. She has got a lot of ability and early on it took a while for the penny to drop. She was a fiery mare at the races but she has definitely grown up a lot."
- Jonny Turner
