There is a sense of déjà vu for Pam Gerard as she navigates a muddled path to this year’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but she is keeping her eye on the prize.
The Matamata horsewoman prepared star three-year-old Savaglee to win last year’s 2000 Guineas, which he won off an interrupted preparation with the rescheduling of both the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) and Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m).
A year down the track, Gerard is chasing a repeat crown with Affirmative Action and Romanoff, the former kicking off his preparation in style winning the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie before scratching from heavy ground in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas.
Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) was set to run in the Sarten at Te Rapa on Labour Day, and after the meeting was abandoned following the first two races, Gerard opted to bypass take two at Tauranga on Saturday, instead accepting in the Show By SkyCity (1400m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie.
In Gerard’s view, Ellerslie was a better fit for the big-striding son of Yes Yes Yes.
“We’ve had to do what we had to, he’s a horse at goes well at Auckland and we know we’re going to get an even surface there,” she said.
“Tauranga could’ve gone either way, we could’ve got more rain and then sometimes after it’s been wet all winter, they can come out there, go absolutely mad and be quite roughly-run races as we saw yesterday.
“He’s a big leggy fella and he didn’t need to be getting tangled up around there.
“We took the option of Ellerslie, it’s a shame it’s not a stakes race but at the end of the day, the Sarten has always been run 11 days before the Guineas and that’s how it’s worked out.”
Meanwhile, Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo) pressed on to the Sarten and announced himself as key hope for the Guineas when third behind the Marsh-trained pair of Swiss Prince and To Cap It All.
“I was really proud of him, he was just beaten by a draw and we knew that when we saw the draws come out,” Gerard said. “It was always going to be tough in that sort of a race, it can be very draw-orientated.
“I think he’s run absolutely super considering he’s drawn out there (12 of 12), I couldn’t be happier with him.”
The performance rewarded Gerard’s faith in Romanoff, with the lightly-tried gelding now locked in for the $700,000 contest on November 15.
“He’s a very underestimated galloper, he’s always shown a lot of potential and he probably gets under the guard a wee bit,” she said. “He was always heading down there, that was our target.
“He’s a naturally fit type of horse, he’ll just tick away quietly and fly down next week. Hopefully we’ve got Affirmative Action joining him as well, we’ll wait and see after Tuesday.”
Originally from Canterbury, Gerard enjoys heading home for the carnival each year, but would’ve preferred to race on a left-handed track in preparation for the big Riccarton circuit.
“It’s home down there which makes it a little bit more special,” she said.
“Getting your three-year-olds up and ready is a real challenge as it’s shown this year and last year, especially with race cancellations and weather. We’re missing Hawke’s Bay, we get good weather down there and get to race left-handed.
“We’re going into Group One races at Riccarton with no left-hand racing which isn’t ideal, but the weather is changing and it is what it is. It’s just a case of managing them to get there as best you can.”