Racing: Group one spring stars resume in Ruakaka sprint

Matamata stayer Sterling Prince could be an each- way hope at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

Forget looking for the buds on the trees, if you want confirmation some good racing is just around the corner again, look at the field for the sprint at Ruakaka on Saturday.

Less than a week after we saw Trentham's open-class 1600m Whyte Handicap won in time significantly slower than the pacers' New Zealand record for the distance, we see four group one performers running for a $17,000 stake.

You don't need any more evidence that top-class horses are about to replace some of the mudders that have been doing sterling work in the ankle-deep stuff lately without raising the excitement levels.

Sterling Prince, Obsession, Beautiful Girl and Run Like Al are going to go around on Saturday against in-form winter horses Sandblaster, Miss Raggedy Ann and One Nite Stand in what should be a terrific contest.

Sterling Prince will be an interesting runner.

He is best known as a stayer and is using this race as a kick-off point in a campaign aimed at the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup on November 2.

But he is not without a turn of foot over the shorter distances when fresh.

Last campaign before heading to Melbourne, he finished a close-up third to Tavistock and Mufhasa in a 1:22.09 1400m of the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings.

Saturday's 1200m is less suitable in distance, but the class is there and there should be plenty of speed on in this race, aiding those running on late.

Sterling Prince's Melbourne form was wonderful.

He didn't have a lot of luck, but managed to finish third in the Geelong Cup, then scored easily in the group three A$250,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.

"He's doing very well and provided he runs well this time he'll definitely be heading to Melbourne," said co-trainer Wayne Hillis.

The 1200m is definitely going to suit Beautiful Girl best.

She has not run since failing to flatter in the sprint at Manawatu in the autumn, but before that she won Ellerslie's Darley Plate, beating Vonusti and Australian sprinter Kiloton.

Some of her best races have been when she's fresh. The No 10 barrier is not ideal, but she has shown she can drop back if needed and come with a late burst, which can offset the draw.

Obsession was group one placed in the NZ Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha and then had no luck from a wide barrier before storming home for fourth in the group one Ester at Ellerslie.

The classy mare is in here to aim her towards the Mudgway Stakes at Hastings.

"Last time she was in fresh she was beaten a nose at Ellerslie and it took a while to pick her back up again," said trainer Frank Ritchie.

"I was keen not to run her fresh on a testing track and this race allows us that and also a month to the Mudgway.

"Unless she just does too well she'll go straight to the Mudgway from this race."

Run Like Al's last race resulted in equal fifth in the Easter at Ellerslie.

When you take into account the weights he was at times required to arry, his form through this season was fabulous.

He also is not a true 1200m type, but you can never count him out on class alone.

Interesting is probably the best word to describe the field for Saturday's $100,000 Waikato Stud Opunake Cup at New Plymouth.

One of the better chances will be Samurai.

He is at the veteran stage, but his fresh-up effort in the nose-nose finish splitting Miss Raggedy Ann and Bulginbaah at Hastings recently showed he retains sufficient ability.

Bulginbaah has 59kg to lump, but he's used to hefty imposts and he rates as one of the country's best weight carriers.