Weather to Dictate Sword Options

Plans for Group 1-winning juvenile Sword Of State (Snitzel-In The Vanguard, by Encosta de Lago) will be determined by the volume of rain in the coming days, reports loveracing.nz. After trainer Jamie Richards initially elected to bypass Sydney due to uncertain weather, the Champion 2YO-elect is a warm favourite for Saturday’s Gr1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in New Zealand. Despite that, the boom son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) is not a confirmed runner, with the Te Akau team keen to keep the valuable colt to better surfaces where possible. Awapuni was rated a Dead 6 on Tuesday, with rain forecast on Wednesday and Thursday. “We have probably got to pay up and then work out by Thursday morning how we think the weather is going to be,” conceded Richards. “We possibly look at Sydney (for the Gr1 ATC Sires’, 1400m) or we look at giving him a break, and just pulling up stumps for the preparation. That is where we are at and won’t make a decision for at least another 24 hours.” The delayed Golden Slipper meeting has pushed the second leg of the Sydney 2YO Triple Crown back a week, providing the Te Akau team with a great back-up alternative.

Sword of State (pic: Trish Dunell)