New Zealand 2000 Guineas favourite Sacred Falls has settled in well at his Christchurch base in preparation to defend his unbeaten record at Riccarton on Saturday.

Sacred Falls (3c O’Reilly – Iguazu’s Girl by Redoute’s Choice) is shooting for the sixth win of his short but spectacular career in the Group 1 classic.  He flew in on Thursday morning along with a number of North Island contenders for the major races of the New Zealand Cup Week carnival.

“He travelled really well and has settled in nicely,” said co-trainer Tony Pike.  “It will be his biggest test to date and we are confident he can do the job.  He blew up over the back after his last start at Te Rapa so I’d like to think I’ve got him 100% for this week.”

That last start resulted in a solid victory in the G3 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) over his 2000 Guineas rivals Warhorse (General Nediym) and Magic Shaft (Shaft).

Warhorse will be looking to snatch a second career Group 1 win on Saturday after taking out the Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie in March.  He also finished a close third in the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes later in the season where he was narrowly beaten by Choice Bro and Magic Shaft.

Saturday’s classic will be the last start in this preparation for Sacred Falls as he will head to the spelling paddock for a well-deserved break before Pike and his international owners plan his autumn campaign.  “His owners will be at the track on Saturday for the first time to watch him race so I’ve got my fingers crossed,” said Pike. “All going well we may see him in Sydney for an autumn campaign in races like the Rosehill Guineas but we will worry about that once he’s safely through this weekend.”

Sacred Falls (NZ) was bred and  sold by Waikato Stud for $160,000 at NZ Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $160,000 to Dato Yap and Bruce Sherwin’s Raffles Dancers Syndicate.