Three weeks on from a dominant performance over the same course and distance, Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) will return to Te Rapa on Saturday in search of a repeat result in the Skycity Hamilton Mile (1600m).
Uderzo has been a strong performer throughout an 11-start campaign as a six-year-old this season, including a third in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) in January and a huge finish from the back of the field for fourth in the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) in April.
But the Vadamos gelding’s first win of the season didn’t come until May 24, when the 4kg claim of apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram reduced his weight to 51kg and he blitzed his open handicap rivals by three and three-quarter lengths.
Goyaram will have his second ride on Uderzo on Saturday, this time with a 3kg claim taking his impost down to 53kg.
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have been pleased with Uderzo in between his two Te Rapa assignments, but warn that very different track conditions will present a new challenge this weekend. In contrast to the Soft6 footing of three weeks ago, Te Rapa was rated a Heavy10 on Friday.
“He appreciated that better ground last time,” Scott said. “The conditions are going to be quite different tomorrow, with all the rain we’ve had in the Waikato recently.
“But he’s a very fit gelding and we’ve been really pleased with him. His work has been right up to his usual standard and his coat and condition look great. If he can cope with the ground and just get that bit of traction that he needs underfoot, there’s no reason why he can’t be very competitive again.”
Te Rapa has been a happy hunting ground for O’Sullivan and Scott this season, providing them with 16 of their 79 wins in 2024-25. They return there with another solid hand this weekend, with Uderzo backed up by Smokeshow, The Weapon and Ivy’s Dancer.
Smokeshow and The Weapon will both line up in the RDA Charity Raceday @ Cambridge Wednesday (1400m).
“Smokeshow is going really well, it was a good run for second over 1200m last start,” Scott said. “Going up to 1400m helps him, and he’s taken a lot of benefit from that run. He’s probably drawn in the right part of the track (gate 16), his fitness levels are high and he’ll handle rain-affected ground.
“The Weapon has had a couple of little setbacks and has been away from the races for a couple of months. He usually races well on the fresh side and we’ve always had a good opinion of him. If he copes with the conditions, he should be hitting the line hard.”
Ivy’s Dancer will attempt to open her winning account in the Andrew (Ledge) Leadbeater Memorial (1400m). The Contributer filly was a last-start placegetter at Ellerslie.
“That was a real improver’s run last time,” Scott said. “The better the ground, the better her chances, so that’s the concern this weekend. But she did work well on soft ground on Tuesday morning. She ran in some very competitive maiden races earlier in the season. If she’s able to produce a similar performance to that last-start Ellerslie run, she shouldn’t be far away from them.”
The Wexford Stables team will also be in action on their home track at Matamata on Sunday, including a raceday debut for Capulet in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO (1200m).
The Belardo colt, a close relative of Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Great Command, was a $30,000 purchase as a yearling at Karaka last year.
Between April 29 and Monday of this week, Capulet finished second in three trials at Pukekohe, Waipa and Ellerslie.
“He’s got some good levels of education,” Scott said. “He’s galloped through rain-affected ground on his home track before, which is an aid.
“He trialled very nicely on Monday and bounced through that well. We’re expecting a good showing in his first raceday start.
“Our Matamata team also includes Jaffira, who’s going well and has a good record at the course and distance (1600m). He can keep up a strong gallop, and testing conditions don’t bother him.
“Ever Charm hasn’t had much luck lately. He was caught really wide last start, in a part of the track where they weren’t really winning that day. He just needs a change of luck and is certainly capable of going close.”