Refreshed Arataki chases second G3 Bellmaine Stakes win

Warrnambool-based trainer Matthew Williamson has noticed a renewed spark in Wrote To Arataki, and he’s hopeful it will translate into another Stakes victory at Sandown.

The mare is set to return to racing in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, a race she previously won in 2023.

Last year, the event was contested over 1300m on the Hillside track, whereas this year’s edition will take place on the Lakeside track.

According to Williamson, Wrote To Arataki was nearly retired at the conclusion of her previous preparation, but with limited time to find a suitable stallion, the decision was made to give her another autumn campaign.

“This prep she seems good,” Williamson said.

“We were never that confident about her last prep off her trials. She just seemed to be a couple of lengths off her best.

“We couldn’t fault her all the way through the way she looked or galloped at home, but we just felt that she wasn’t going as well as she can.

“So, we’ve tried a few things different this time.”

One of those changes included sending Wrote To Arataki to Balnarring for pre-training under Cheryl Weller, a suggestion made by one of her owners.

Williamson explained that since being purchased from New Zealand, the mare had only ever left Warrnambool for racing, trials, or gallops. The change of routine seemed to have given her a fresh perspective. Another notable adjustment was the removal of earmuffs from her race-day gear.

“We took those off in her last trial, and it was a trial that we would have seen from her two preps ago,” Williamson said.

“We think we’re going OK, but until the acid gets applied on Saturday, we won’t really know where we are.

“We put the earmuffs on her because she wouldn’t settle in her races, she was wanting to do it too hard all the time.

“They worked well at the time, but being a bit older now, I don’t think she needs them, and she needs to hear the others to switch on a bit.”

Looking ahead, Williamson expects Wrote To Arataki to continue racing in Melbourne throughout the autumn, though her future could depend on her performances.

“Unless she was going really good, she might go to that Chairman’s Sale in Sydney this year, but if she gets through Saturday she could go to Frances Tressady (at Flemington) in a fortnight and follow a mare’s path, but I don’t think any races in Sydney will be on the cards.”