A drop back in distance will be to the liking of the Tony Pike-trained Agera (NZ) (Complacent) in Friday’s Listed Matamata Cup (1600m).
The six-year-old will be the stable’s only representative at the meeting in take two of the Team Wealleans-sponsored feature after it fell afoul of the weather on its original date earlier this month.
Pike had intended to run the son of Complacent in the Cup but was unable to book a suitable jockey and the gelding instead finished fourth in the open handicap over ground.
“The mile is his best trip, and he just doesn’t quite get 2000 metres, especially on a heavy track,” Pike said.
“It’s almost two weeks between runs and dropping back to the mile should be ideal for him.”
To be ridden by Matt Cartwright, Agera has won on five occasions, with three of them collected during his current campaign.
“He’s had a really good preparation, and it would be nice to go out on a winning note,” Pike said.
“He definitely needs cut in the ground and if it looks like staying wet for the next couple of weeks, he could have another run. He’s had a pretty long, deep season so he is due a break soon.”
Pike will have half a-dozen runners at Ellerslie on Saturday with the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) hope Happy Youmzain (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) among them.
The last-start winner will be ridden in the Kingmakers Syndication Handicap (1400m) by Opie Bosson.
“He’s a talented three-year-old and it’s probably not the right race for him, it’s a strong race against the older horses but there weren’t a lot of other options,” Pike said.
“If he runs well, he’ll go on to the three-year-old race on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie and then hopefully head down south.”
Pike will also keep a close on the Rat Tat Two-Year-Old Plate (800m), in which Home Secretary (Home Affairs) makes her first appearance with Kelly Myers booked for the ride.
The daughter of Home Affairs has finished runner-up in both of her trials at Ellerslie and Te Rapa.
“She’s better on a better surface, she really struggled around Te Rapa where it was pretty shifty and rained all day and was awful,” Pike said.
“She’s a really smart filly and if she handles the track, she’ll go close.”