Racing: Ritchie happy after Te Teko trial effort

Obsession could bounce back to top form at Hawera tomorrow. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Physically, Obsession did not progress well into the first two legs of the Hastings spring treble.

It should be a bit different for tomorrow's $80,000 Windsor Park Taranaki Breeders Stakes.

There is plenty of form in the race, but you have to weigh up the quality of that form against Obsession's.

She finished third, with an element of interference, in the group one NZ Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha and followed it up with an excellent sixth in the Easter Handicap after having to drop back to the tail from a wide gate. That's form few of her rivals tomorrow would be capable of.

"She wasn't quite where I wanted her to be a few weeks ago, but I'm happy with her winning run at the Te Teko trials - I think she's back on track," said trainer Frank Ritchie.

Obsession has a big field to contend with, but will have Opie Bosson to assist in that.

Barinka and easy last-start winner Lady Chaparral will be tough opponents.

Barinka finished second to Irish Colleen in the Rotorua Stakes in the autumn, then finished second in the A$200,000 Eye Liner Stakes on a Brisbane winter campaign. Once again that is good form in this race.

Lady Chaparral is the improving horse. She beat only a couple of horses in a R90 race in extremely heavy ground at Te Aroha last start, but is much better than that.

You need to go back to her autumn form when she finished fifth - not far behind Obsession - in the Te Aroha Breeders Stakes.