NZ stars make Spring return

Te Akau Racing stars Damask Rose and La Dorada have returned to public action ahead of the spring, with both mares beginning preparations for feature races in New Zealand after elite-level campaigns in Australia.

Damask Rose made her first appearance back home since claiming the inaugural NZB Kiwi when she stepped out in a quiet trial at Avondale on Tuesday.

The daughter of Savabeel raced nine times in Australia during the season, recording three Group 3 placings despite failing to add another victory to her record.

Co-trainer Sam Bergerson believes the talented mare had little luck during her Melbourne campaign.

“Unfortunately, she didn’t have the rub of the green in a lot of her starts,” Bergerson told the LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

“There is no hiding over there, you need everything to go your way, and unfortunately for her it didn’t. But we know on her day she is class, so fingers crossed we can get her back to some really good form.

“We have given her a really good break back here in New Zealand.”

Bergerson said Damask Rose is likely to resume in next month’s Foxbridge Plate (1200m) before a potential tilt at the Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie two weeks later.

“Damask Rose had a really quiet trial, it was just a nice day out for her,” Bergerson said. “She has had a good build-up heading into the spring and it’s fantastic to see her back here in New Zealand.

“She will hopefully trial in that Group and Listed trial (on August 8 at Te Rapa) and potentially kick-off in the Foxbridge.

“Just the way that first Group 1 works at Ellerslie, and the eligibility criteria, she is actually quite low in the order because she is a two-time Restricted Listed winner but hasn’t actually won a Group race. If it was done on ratings, she would breeze in, but she might have to run in the Foxbridge, and run well there, to even make the field.

“We will play it by ear, but we will give her a bit more of a test at Te Rapa and go from there.”

Group 1-winning filly La Dorada also returned in a low-key 1000-metre trial at Avondale and is expected to begin her campaign in handicap company.

“She had a good break post the Kiwi,” Bergerson said. “She is not overly big, but she seems to have filled out and strengthened up a bit, and there is plenty to work with. She has got a fantastic, gritty aptitude for racing.

“She is still quite lowly rated at 80, and we may miss the big guns early and utilise her handicap. We will certainly be guided by her in the coming weeks in how she trials up.”

Bergerson said both mares still have another gear to find when they return to race conditions.

“With both of those mares, we have still got the blinkers up our sleeve, which they both race in,” Bergerson said. “I think when those go on and they get to raceday, they are quite intelligent and they know what they are there for.”