Te Akau Racing’s Skew Wiff heads into Saturday’s G1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham as a $5 chance, sharing the second line of betting with Grail Seeker and just behind favourite Crocetti ($4.50). However, potential heavy rain and thunderstorms could heavily impact the $550,000 feature race.
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are cautious about the weather. While Skew Wiff thrives on soft ground, Walker admitted, “We wouldn’t be as confident in her chances if [a heavy track] happened.” Freshened since a G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate second in October, Skew Wiff trialled impressively last month and boasts a strong record fresh, including victories in the G1 Tarzino Trophy and G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes.
Te Akau’s other runners face similar challenges. My Lips Are Sealed, a proven wet tracker, excels in testing conditions, while Talisker, runner-up in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, may struggle if the forecast heavy track materializes.
The state of the Trentham track will be decisive in shaping Saturday’s outcomes.