All Too Hard Mare Overdue for G1 Win

Media Release - Sunday December 31

Cambridge horseman Ben Foote was left disappointed following Babylon Berlin’s head defeat to glamour mare Imperatriz in this year’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) and he is hoping she can go one better in the sprinting feature at Pukekohe on Monday.

Babylon Berlin (inside) narrowly beaten by Imperatriz in the 2023 edition of the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m).  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The six-year-old mare has been a perennial bridesmaid at elite-level, finishing runner-up in her last three Group One outings, and has placed in the last two editions of the Railway.

Foote, who now trains in partnership with his son Ryan, is hoping for redemption in the 2024 edition of the Railway.

“The biggest disappointment for me was last year (in the Railway). I thought she had it in the bag and then Imperatriz just got up. That was disappointing when you think you are going to win,” Foote told TAB NZ.

“I am proud of what she has done but we still really want that Group One.”

Babylon Berlin began her preparation in impressive fashion when winning the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa last month before just going down to Sacred Satono in the Gr.3 Counties Bowl (1100m).

She has subsequently had two pleasing trials and will have a two-kilogram weight advantage over Sacred Satono on Monday compared to a six-kilogram disparity last start.

“The win was a bonus first-up. Now we have screwed her down, she is in really good form, and she seems to thrive when she gets to that point when her fitness is right up,” Foote said.

“An eight-kilo turnaround is a hell of a lot, he is a good horse, but I am confident that my mare is going to be fitter. Bring on New Year’s Day.”

Advertisement

Sydney jockey Jason Collett is set to return to New Zealand to ride the mare on Monday and Foote is hoping his local knowledge will be a key factor in the race, with the expat Kiwi having grown up riding at the track.

“I have had an affiliation with Jason before and he is a top-class rider in Australia. He rung me and said he was keen to come over to ride her. He does know the track really well and I think he is a nice, kind rider that would suit her,” Foote said.

Ryan Foote is just as excited about Monday’s test and is looking forward to lining up his first horse in Group One company, having joined his father in a training partnership at the start of the season.

“It is really exciting for me to have my first Group One runner and for Ben to bring me into his operation and to trust me with all these nice horses we have,” he said.

“I get along really well with her (Babylon Berlin). It is just about finding that connection with them. I am always worried about her and just making sure everything is going the right way as going into a Group One is so big.

“It would mean a lot to both of us (to win the Railway), especially being able to do it together.”

Babylon Berlin is a $2.50 favourite for the Railway with TAB bookmakers, ahead of Maven Belle at $4 and Dragon Leap at $4.80. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
All Too Hard Mare Chasing Fairytale Group One
Emotions will run high at Te Rapa if All Too Hard’s specialist short course performer Babylon Berlin can finally break through at the highest level.
Three Straight Stakes Wins For Cool Aza Beel’s Cool Archie
With no two-year-old currently performing better in Queensland, the Chirs and Corey Munce trained Cool Archie continued his outstanding form, taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), his third consecutive black type victory.
Magic Justify x Fastnet Rock Cross Strikes in Hong Kong
With Justify’s very best son City of Troy (USA) shuttling to Coolmore Australia this spring it’s worth remembering the power of the Justify x Fastnet Rock nick and we saw it to the fore at Sha Tin on Saturday when Australian bred four year-old Pray for Mir took out the Group III The Lion Rock Trophy (1600m).
All Too Hard Sprinter Going Strong
Well-performed speed merchant Babylon Berlin will strip a fitter mare for Saturday’s assignment at Ellerslie.
All Too Hard Speed Mare Wins Legacy Lodge Sprint
Quality sprinter Babylon Berlin successfully defended her crown in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) within a display of pure sprinting power at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.
Hat-Trick for Trelawney Stud Blueblood Filly
Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 31
Here is the full list of 116 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ears Back Wins Listed Stakes at Wanganui
A two-race North Island campaign has ended on a career-defining high for Ears Back and her Rangiora trainer John Blackadder, who scored their first black-type win in Saturday’s Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui.
Another Group Win for All Too Hard's Babylon Berlin
Class mare Babylon Berlin lead her rivals a merry dash when she outgunned a small but quality field in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.