Ribchester filly steps up to Group One task

Last start winner Costae will attempt to add black-type to her record on Saturday when she tackles the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

The three-year-old daughter of Ribchester is fashioning an impressive record having notched up two wins and two placing from four starts.

Those feats were enough to catch the attention of Australian-based syndicators OTI Racing who brought into Costae following her win at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day. They race the Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained filly in partnership with Craig Baker, A Swale, Bryce Hope, Dean Nash, Nadine Bryson, Murray McAnulty, Ritchie and Korie Meadows.

The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas will be Costae’s toughest assignment to date. The market is currently headed by Group Two winner Alabama Lass and multiple Group performer Captured By Love.

Costae has drawn barrier one and will be partnered by Ryan Elliot.

If successful Costae will cap a strong fortnight for Ribchester who has had six winners across Australasia over the past 10 days.

“Costae is up against some classy fillies on Saturday,” Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty said. “If she could run a place that would be a huge effort and would be a great advertisement for the style of horse Ribchester can produce.

“He has had a string of winners this month and it is great to see the first New Zealand-conceived crop coming out and performing well.

“Ribchester’s statistics are impressive, in Australasia he is at 52.7 percent winners to runners which is exciting heading into the summer racing period.”

Costae was a $55,000 purchase when secured by Ritchie from of Seaton Park’s draft at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales.

Ribchester stands at $10,000 this season.