Trainers set for Melbourne carnival Fri, 20 Jul 2012

Graham Richardson and Shaune Ritchie have settled on Mornington as their spring base following a recent scouting trip to Australia.

“We’re training for the same owner so we went over a couple of weeks ago to look at stabling and it’s as good as any,” Richardson said. “It will suit all of us there.”

The common denominator between the two trainers is The Oaks Stud with the Dick Karreman-owned Singled Minded to be part of Richardson’s travelling party while Ritchie’s team will feature Artistic and Zurella.

“Single Minded will be nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and hopefully he’s good enough,” Richardson said. “He’ll trial at Te Teko and then probably have a run at Ellerslie and fly over to Melbourne on October 2.”

The Bachelor Duke four-year-old’s summer form was outstanding with wins in the Gr.2 City of Auckland Cup and the Gr.2 Avondale Cup. He also finished fourth in the Gr.2 Wellington Cup.

Stakes winners Green Supreme and Villifye will join Single Minded in Australia with plans for both of them to be in action at the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown carnival before departing for Melbourne.

“The trip to Hastings will be the first goal for Green Supreme and he might go for the first two legs there before going to Australia,” Richardson said. “He won the Dustan Stayers’ Final, but he’s not a real stayer – he’s got too much brilliance.”

Green Supreme won the Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Stud Flying Handicap over 1400 metres at Awapuni in the autumn and was spelled after finishing fifth in the Gr.1 Easter Handicap. “There are plenty of options for him and he’s an exciting horse,” Richardson said.

Gr.2 Japan Trophy winner Villifye will be aimed toward fillies’ and mares’ events during the Melbourne spring carnival. “She’ll probably run in the second two legs of the Triple Crown at Hastings first,” he said.

Richardson’s more immediate focus is on his Listed Waikato Stud Opunake Cup contender Atom Cat. “He’s really well and I’m happy with his attitude and his work,” he said. “It’s a good field and a hard race to win and coming back to 1400 metres is a question mark, but I’ve kept him fresh.”