The Match Race at Trentham: Babylon Berlin vs. Wewillrock

Friday, 17 May 2024 by Jason Tan

The Match Race at Trentham: Babylon Berlin vs. Wewillrock

At Trentham on Saturday, all eyes will be on BABYLON BERLIN as she prepares for her first start since the Group 1 Sistema Railway on January 1, 2024. The six-year-old chestnut mare, trained by Ben and Ryan Foote, is set to compete in Race 2, with her clear competition coming from WEWILLROCK.

A Fresh Start

BABYLON BERLIN’s raceday resumption marks the fifth break of 90-days or more the mare has had between starts. Historically, she has excelled “fresh”, with two wins and a third-place finish. The only blemish was knuckling at the start of an Open Handicap at Pukekohe in November 2022, that cost her competing. Her ability to perform well off a break of 90-days+ is a key factor in her favour and you could embellish that record more by including her win on debut.

HorseTorque NZ Ratings

BABYLON BERLIN’s HorseTorque NZ ratings when fresh have consistently been in the 95-99 range, with her latest rating pegged at 99, achieved when she last ran off a 232-day gap at Te Rapa in November. This performance level underscores how ready her trainers have her and the high expectations surrounding her return.

The Main Threat: WEWILLROCK

While BABYLON BERLIN is the standout, WEWILLROCK poses a genuine threat. Rated at 93 when winning his last start, WEWILLROCK is likely to improve to a higher level that he’s reached before and is deserving of being assess at 95 for here. His reliability and ability to challenge BABYLON BERLIN make this a highly anticipated match race, promising excitement despite the small field.

The Challenge at Trentham and a winter in Queensland

The Happy 80th Birthday Garry Chittick 1100 is not just another race for BABYLON BERLIN; it’s a chance to reaffirm her status as one of New Zealand’s premier racehorses whilst laying the foundations for another Queensland campaign. With her proven track record, high HorseTorque NZ ratings, and the meticulous preparation by the Foote team, can she hold off a race fit WEWILLROCK in what will be a "match race" highlight at Trentham on Saturday?

Stay ahead with HorseTorque NZ for comprehensive ratings on New Zealand horse racing.

The Horsetorque NZ rated prices for BABYLON BERLIN - $2.10, WEWILLROCK - $2.70

The Horsetorque NZ Best Bets

Trentham:

Race 4: 8 DRESSE' PAR JOLI (HT Rated Price $2.50)

Te Rapa:

Race 8: 5 THE PROPHET (HT Rated Price $2.90)

Good luck,

Jason Tan