The Group 1 NZ Bloodstock Insurance Spring Classic (2040m) has attracted an even field for the final leg of the Hawkes Bay’s Group 1 Triple Crown this Saturday.

This is the second year NZ Bloodstock Insurance has sponsored the Spring Classic which is arguably the pinnacle of weight-for-age racing in New Zealand with recent winners including Jimmy Choux, Wall Street, Princess Coup and Xcellent.

With the winners of the first two legs of the Triple Crown – Karaka graduates Ocean Park and Mufhasa – chasing Australian riches, the pair are absent from Saturday’s line-up.  This sets up an open contest in the Spring Classic, with a field of 16 shooting for Group 1 glory, 6 of them Karaka graduates.

Current race favourite Xanadu (Elusive City) has been flying this season, placing in the Makfi Challenge Stakes and Windsor Park Plate.  The Ken & Bev Kelso trained four-year-old was one of the few to make ground on Mufhasa in the Windsor Park Plate and will be making her debut over 2000 metres.

Tough mare Fleur de Lune (Stravinsky) made Mufhasa work in the straight in the Windsor Park Plate and raced on gallantly for second place.  She finished just over three lengths from Ocean Park in the Makfi Stakes and will also be racing over 2000 metres for the first time.

Group 1 Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential (Fast ‘N’ Famous) produced an eye-catching run for fifth at her last start in the Group 1 George Main Stakes in Sydney and looks well placed in the line-up for trainer John Sargent but has drawn wide in barrier 16.

Another mare who brings good form into the race is Guiseppina (Johar) who raced brilliantly in the first two legs of the Triple Crown.  The Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie trained Group 1 winning sprinter is also untried at 2000 metres but her electric turn-of-foot makes her a dangerous prospect.

Stablemate Dolmabache (Redoute’s Choice) goes into the race with a G2 Travis Stakes win to her credit over 2000 metres last season.  She is the second of three runners in the field bred by Pencarrow Stud in addition to Guiseppina and Fears Nothing.

Horses trained by Roger James have been prominent this season and his charge He’s Remarkable (Pentire) showed significant improvement on his fresh up run when running fifth to Mufhasa in the Windsor Park Plate.

It would be of little surprise to see the Allan Sharrock trained Shez Sinsational (Ekraar) right there in the finish.  She had a tough run in the Windsor Park Plate but she is a dual Group 1 winner over 2000 metres and that record will see her well supported.

Another mare to come through the Windsor Park Plate is Postmans Daughter (Postponed) who finished less than two lengths from Mufhasa. She is no stranger to Group 1 company and has shown that she is capable of winning a Group 1 race.  She has two runs under her belt coming into the Spring Classic for trainer Don Walker.

Graham Richardson will have two runners in the race with Green Supreme (Oasis Dream) and Villifye (O’Reilly).  Green Supreme produced an eye-catching run fresh up in the Makfi Stakes and did manage to make some ground on Mufhasa last start from back in the field.  He will have no problems with the 2000 metre trip.

Villifye raced over 2000 metres last season producing a late-finishing fourth to rival Dolmabache in the Travis Stakes but has a tough draw in 15.

The Lucy Tanner trained Flemington (Jungle Pocket) and the Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue trained Carrick (Shinko King) both come into the race after contesting a 2000 metre open handicap at Hawke’s Bay on Windsor Park Plate day.

Carrick ran a great third in the G1 New Zealand Derby last season and has the makings of a good horse but faces a big step up in class in Saturday’s race.  Flemington won the G3 Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup (2200m) last season in a tough fashion carrying 53kg and he will be asked to carry 59kg at weight-for-age on Saturday.

The David Haworth & Matt Dixon trained Fears Nothing (Faltaat) and Zennistafrom Lisa Latta’s stables are both stakes winners over a mile and both have yet to win over the Spring Classic distance.  Back In Black (Storm Creek) ran fifth in the Spring Classic last year and he was back in winning form for his trainer John Steffert two starts ago winning on the track on Makfi Stakes day.

The Vanessa & Wayne Hillis trained Art Beat (Captain Rio) completes the field and she comes into the race in good form, making up stacks of ground in the Listed Karaka Classic at her last start at Counties.

The field for the $300,000 Group 1 NZ Bloodstock Insurance Spring Classic can be viewed here.