Sassy Lass Aims for Victory in Waikato Cup After Near Miss

Sassy Lass is poised to improve upon her second-place finish in last year’s group 3 Waikato Cup (2400m) as she prepares for this year’s race on November 11, 2023. Despite a formline that may not seem promising at first glance, her trainer, Scott, believes her recent performances indicate she is in excellent shape.

In her latest outing at the Counties Cup, Sassy Lass finished strong, coming in less than one and a half lengths behind the winner. “Her Counties Cup run this year was actually better than last year. She only got going late,” Scott noted. He expressed satisfaction with her preparation this season, highlighting that Sassy Lass has had a more effective buildup compared to last year when she was recovering from a winter campaign. The Staphanos mare will carry the minimum weight of 53 kg for the Waikato Cup and will have a new rider, Masa Hashizume, returning to the saddle for the first time since last year’s Counties Cup.

Strong Contenders from Wexford Stables

Wexford Stables is represented by other promising entries in the upcoming races at Te Rapa. Notably, the talented four-year-old Checkmate will participate in the group 3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) following a brief hiatus. “After his run in the group 1 Proisir Plate [1400m], we decided spring was coming a bit too soon for Checkmate, so we put him aside,” Scott explained. “He’s come back looking much better and had a lovely trial at Taupo last month.”

Stablemate Lux Libertas is also set to make her return, having her first start since June. Scott believes she will adapt well to the track conditions, even though her previous form has been on deeper surfaces. “She loves Te Rapa and while most of her form has been on deeper tracks, we expect she’ll cope with this better ground,” he said.

Adding to the excitement, Smart Love boasts an impressive track record, having won all three of her starts this campaign. Scott is optimistic about her chances, stating, “Her Tuesday work indicated she’s as well as she has been heading into her earlier races, and we expect another good run from her.” Smart Love needs one scratching to secure a spot in the J Swap Sprint, where she is also an acceptor for the rating 75 1500m on the Te Rapa undercard.

Debutants and Returning Talent

Wexford Stables will also feature two juvenile fillies in the DJ Bloodstock 2YO: Firebird, a Noverre filly, and Dashing Dixie, an Alabama Express filly. “We haven’t raced many of our 2-year-olds over the past couple of years, but these two fillies have shown us enough to say they should be given the opportunity,” Scott remarked. He highlighted Firebird’s impressive trial performance, noting her early speed and promising lineage, as she is a half-sister to star 2-year-old Ruud Awakening.

Dashing Dixie has also met expectations during her training, demonstrating her readiness to compete. “She has looked natural and willing in her two trials, and going by her training, she’s ready to run well,” Scott added.

In addition to the new entries, Tristar will be making her return after finishing fourth in stakes company during the winter. Scott believes she possesses considerable ability and is prepared for a strong performance in the rating 75 1200m race. “She’s a young mare with her share of ability and should sprint well fresh after two lead-up trials,” he concluded.

As the Waikato Cup approaches, all eyes will be on Sassy Lass and the Wexford Stables team, eager to see if they can secure victory in a competitive racing environment.