Ghostly grey gelding Skaifee can secure one premiership title for himself and potentially one for his trainer Theresa Bateup at the same time if successful in Sunday’s Superior Oysters Handicap (1000m) at the Sapphire Coast.
The south coast venue is the happiest of hunting grounds for both horse and trainer.
Skaifee has won three times in his eight visits while exactly one third of Bateup’s 210 winners have been at the Sapphire Coast.
“I deliberately aimed him for this meeting,” the Kembla based Bateup said.
“He is in front to be Horse of the Year at the Sapphire Coast with this meeting and only more to go.
“I gave him a little freshen-up since his win down there last start. He had a week in the paddock and he races well fresh.
“There is a little bit of depth to the race but at the same time he is very consistent and honest so hopefully he can cement then Horse of the Year title.”
Bateup is herself locked in an arm wrestle for the Trainer of the Year crown but a good day on Sunday could see her gain the upper hand.
Bateup has won the title three out of the last four years, one of those shared with the iconic Barbara Joseph (and the Jones boys).
“I reckon that is a pretty good effort considering I am at a disadvantage because straight off the bat I get behind 30 per cent because every program there are two races I can’t go in – the country boosted races,” Bateup said.
Skaifee is one of as many as ten Bateup-trained horses heading south this weekend, none more interesting than the unraced two-year-old duo Kickamushu and West Of Dubai.
Kickamushu, a daughter of Giga Kick’s now Tunisia-based father Scissor Kick, was outstanding in every way when winning a trial at Kembla as recently as last Wednesday.
“I think she is a nice horse but you never quite know until you get them under race conditions,” said Bateup.
“She has done everything well within herself so that will be the testing factor on Sunday.
“She gives you the impression that there is a bit in hand but until you really press the button you never quite know and it just depends on how they handle race day conditions.
“That’s why I like to take them to the Sapphire Coast first-up, it’s a nice big track, not too dissimilar to Kembla. They have got a nice long straight line to balance up on.”
Kickamushu was bought online for $7,000, half as much as her stablemate West Of Dubai sold for at the 2020 Scone Yearling Sale.
“He is probably a little bit rawer than Kickamushu at this stage,” Bateup said.
“I think he is going to develop into a really nice horse.
“He is still doing a few little things wrong. He is not brilliant out of the gates and he is still finding his legs but he is taking nice progression.”
– Shayne O’Cass
Originally published: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/sapphire-coast-races-sunday-preview-best-bets-and-inside-mail/news-story/8b630d68d2c447c9ccb593af1c1985fa