Tuxedo primed for strong Proisir Plate showing

The booking of a champion rider combined with the inside gate and a smooth preparation has Shaune Ritchie confident that Tuxedo will be in the frame in Saturday’s Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.

The Cambridge trainer, who operates in partnership with Colm Murray, will have the services of Opie Bosson and is expecting a bold showing from the combination at the weekend.

“Tuxedo’s fantastic, Opie rode him at the trials and then at the gallops at Ellerslie and he’s impressed. If he’s happy then I’m happy,” Ritchie said.

“He’s certainly a lot stronger animal than last year and he’s progressed well. He’s got a good record fresh and he’s drawn the barrier to get a very economical trip. Hopefully he can use the gate, but I will leave that entirely in Opie’s hands.”

While more than pleased with Tuxedo’s build-up, there’s a healthy respect for the top two in the market over a distance short of the Tivaci gelding’s best.

“The fact of the matter is that he doesn’t have the same turn of foot over 1400m as Well Written or Alabama Lass, but what he will get is a soft run behind them,” Ritchie said.

“You’d like to think that he will be hitting the line off an economical trip better than most of the others.”

Ritchie’s ultimate goal with Tuxedo is a crack at the A$2 million Group 3 Five Diamonds (1800m), but his pathway isn’t locked and loaded with a start in the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) yet to be confirmed.