Te Akau Racing declaring Embellish for Group 1 Australian Guineas
Two years ago, trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards had a crack at the Flemington feature with another quality colt in Xtravagant, who finished midfield after starting a short-priced favourite.
Embellish will open his Guineas campaign in Saturday’s Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) and Autridge said the son of Savabeel had the superior credentials.
“They are different types, Xtravagant was a speed horse and Embellish settles well.
“We believe he is a better sort of horse for the Australian Guineas than Xtravagant was because he can sit off the pace and he’s got a great turn of foot that will suit Flemington.”
Both winners of the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Embellish arrived in Melbourne earlier this week in top shape.
He has raced twice since his classic success in the spring, finishing fourth when resuming on Boxing Day and he was then a close second in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
“He’s come through that nicely and I can’t believe how well he’s done since he got here,” Autridge said.
“The 1400m at Flemington on Saturday will be like a mile back home so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Melody Belle is ready to do battle against the fillies in Sydney in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
“We’ve got her the best she’s ever been,” Autridge said. “She won very easily at Ellerslie last time out and she’s come through it well.
“She’ll run in the Light Fingers and a couple of weeks later in the Surround Stakes, but we haven’t made any plans after that.”