The Te Akau training operation has unlocked the secret to the southern group 1 races for 3yr-olds - give the precocious youngsters time to take in their surroundings in the South Island.
Just a week after Xtravagant smashed his rivals in the 2000 Guineas, stablemate Risque came with a withering run to down a high-class New Zealand 1000 Guineas field at Riccarton on Saturday.
Her win gave Te Akau trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards a clean sweep of the age-grade features at the Riccarton carnival after picking up the Welcome Stakes with Sassy `N' Smart earlier in the day.
Risque has been south longer than most, catching the eye with an 11-length win at Ashburton in September, but really came in to the figuring for the 3yr-old fillies' 1600m with victory in the listed Armadillo Stakes at Riccarton last month.
''It's always been a method that has worked well with Te Akau in the past - get them down here early,'' co-trainer Richards said.
''I think that Armadillo race is a very good form guide for these Guineas races, with Platinum Witness and Atlante and those sorts of horses coming out of it in the last couple of years.
''They've had a mile and a run at Riccarton, so I think it's a big plus getting them down here early and targeting those sort of races.''
The Darci Brahma filly had one run as a 2yr-old before returning to the races at Taupo in August.
''We always thought she was pretty smart,'' Richards said.
''Things didn't go right for her at Taupo first up with shifty ground and a tight-turning track. She's a big, long-striding filly that needs this sort of track.''
Risque's 1 length win over Strada Cavallo puts her right into the reckoning for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the year title, after just two races of 11 in the series.
The next race in the series is the Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni on December 12, followed by the Eight Carat Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
''She can go back to the Oaks for a fortnight and we'll sit down with Rick and make a bit of a plan, but we'll be looking at the filly of the year series,'' Richards said.
Te Akau left the carnival with six wins across the three days including four on Saturday.
''It's been an unbelievable seven days - and today has been unbelievable,'' Autridge said.
