Pukekohe Park is set to host its premier meeting of the year on Saturday, featuring four major black-type races. Cambridge-based trainers Ben and Ryan Foote will present a strong team with contenders in three of these key events, aiming to secure a memorable day of racing success.

Black-Type Campaign Begins with Vega For Luck

The Footes’ campaign begins in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), where they will saddle up promising two-year-old Vega For Luck. The juvenile colt has already shown his potential, winning on debut at Tauranga on October 5 before placing third at Ellerslie three weeks later. Earlier this week, he impressed with a trial victory at Waipa.

“He’s done a good job in those first two starts,” Ben Foote said. “We initially planned to tip him out for a spell, but he made it clear he wanted to keep going. He seems to thrive on work.

“Experience is always an asset in these early two-year-old races, so we think he’ll be quite a good chance this weekend. It was a good trial the other day. We just sent him there to cruise around, but he won his heat well and seemed to have plenty up his sleeve.”

Babylon Berlin Headlines Counties Bowl

The standout of the Footes’ team, Babylon Berlin, will contest the Group 3 Counties Bowl (1100m). A seasoned campaigner with nine wins from 30 starts and over $665,000 in stakes earnings, the daughter of All Too Hard has consistently performed at the highest level. She has been a multiple Group 1 placegetter and has a strong record in the Counties Bowl, finishing third in 2021 and second in 2022.

After battling setbacks over the past year, Babylon Berlin returned to form with a dominant front-running victory in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa on November 9.

“That was good to see,” Foote said. “She took a little while to hit her stride at the start of this preparation, but I think she’s coming up really well now. It’s nice to see her back in some of her good form again.

“She’s had a good couple of weeks since that Te Rapa win. She did have a stone bruise after the race, but she got over that quickly. Saturday’s race has a tidy field with some smart horses she hasn’t faced before, so it’ll be interesting. But I couldn’t be happier with how she’s doing leading into the race.”

The Odyssey Eyes Counties Cup

The Odyssey will represent the Footes in the Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m), a race targeted since his breakout campaign last summer. The gelding claimed four wins from seven starts during that period, highlighted by his triumph in the $300,000 Remutaka Classic (2100m) at Trentham in January.

This spring, The Odyssey has delivered consistent performances, including a win over 2100m at Ellerslie on October 19 and four other starts that yielded two third-place finishes and two fourths.

“He’s always looked like a really nice horse for a race like the Counties Cup,” Foote said. “He’s been racing consistently well this preparation, and I’m super happy with the horse. I think he might take some beating.”

A Day of High Stakes

With three well-credentialed runners, the Footes are poised for a significant showing at Pukekohe’s feature meeting. Each contender brings proven form and potential to their respective races, ensuring the father-and-son duo has multiple chances to make their mark on one of New Zealand’s most anticipated racing days of the season.

“It’s always a big occasion at Pukekohe, and we’re excited to have strong contenders across these black-type races,” Ben Foote said. “Each of them is in good shape, and we’re hopeful they’ll perform to their best on the day.”