Sophia Orting trains horses in South Auckland. On Saturday, she will take Master Brutus to Te Rapa to try to win her first stakes race.
She was close to attaining the mark in January with the consistent three-year-old who was denied by just a short-head in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) when beaten by Saturday race rival Maven Belle.
Master Brutus was subsequently placed over 1200m at Te Rapa last month and Orting is confident of a bolding showing when they return to the Hamilton track this weekend for the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1400m).
“He has done very well since his last race,” Orting said. “I can't fault his work and I think the 1400m will suit. From a better barrier (7) hopefully we can get in a better position than last time.
“He hasn't missed a placing and to be fair to him he has been unlucky a couple of times.
“We were very happy with his run in the Almanzor, he was very close that day. It is a very strong field tomorrow but he was meeting good horses then.
“We can't fault the horse. He is very well in himself.”
Orting was pleasantly surprised to see Master Brutus shorter in the market than she anticipated, with the son of Swiss Ace installed a +320 second favourite behind Maven Belle (+170), who he pushed so close in the Almanzor Trophy.
“We thought he would be around the $10 mark, but he is second favourite now, so obviously a few people are backing him off his previous performances,” she said.
Having a runner in on Derby Day is a dream for most New Zealand trainers, and Orting is over the moon to have such a strong contender in one of the day's feature races.
“It is exciting to have a horse like him in on Debry Day, that is what it is all about. It is not every day you get to the big days and the big races,” she said.
“I am grateful to the owners who have kept him with us and trusted us with him. It would be great to get a nice race for them.”
Orting hasn't made any set plans with the lightly-raced gelding after Saturday and may send him to the spelling paddock after a pleasing campaign.
“It depends how he comes through the race, but he has done quite a lot. It is only his first racing prep and he is due a break,” she said.
“He is still learning so I think there is more to come.”