Trainer Bruce Hill believes that Teronado is one of the best horses he has ever trained and is confident that he will produce another strong performance in the 2014 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) this Saturday.
Teronado is chasing his maiden Group 1 victory in the Royal Randwick Guineas in Sydney this Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Teronado started his autumn preparation with a third place finish behind Woodbine and Pirandello in the Australian Turf Club Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 1 and was far from disgraced when fifth in both the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15 and the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at the same venue on March 1.
Hill told Thechampionships.com.au that Teronado was starting to live up to the natural ability that he showed at an early age and has been happy with the performances of the son of Testa Rossa in all three of his race starts this campaign.
“He was a little bit hard to educate and took a while to pick things up but he’s always shown the raw ability and he’d have to be one of the better ones I’ve trained, that’s for sure,” Hill said.
“His two Melbourne runs were terrific.
“He was a bit unlucky in the Australia Guineas; they went slow up front and that made it hard for him but he was still able to get home well.”
Teronado was partnered by Craig Newitt in both of his runs in Melbourne and Hill said that the leading Melbourne jockey is set to partner the three-year-old in the Royal Randwick Guineas this weekend as well as the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) on March 29 and the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.
“Craig said he was going to stick with him right through,” Hill said.
“He’s been real happy with him and he’s sort of worked him out pretty well.”
The Royal Randwick Guineas is set to be one of the most competitive in the recent history of the race and there is a chance the Group 1 event could be run with a capacity field of 20 runners.
Classy Kiwi colt El Roca ($4.40) is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 Royal Randwick Guineas betting markets from fellow New Zealander Atlante ($6), Peter Moody-trained Dissident ($7) and Orr Stakes runner-up Eurozone ($9), while Teronado is currently available at a quote of $26.
