Yesterday's three-year-old 1600m race at Ellerslie hasn't changed my thoughts on the Derby greatly.
Thé winner doesn't strike me as a Derby horse. Physically he's come on in leaps and bounds in the last two months but he tends to get on the bit and overrace a little to get a distance at present. A nice family this, one that I've recommended a friend consider buying into at Karaka - although No Fear and his half sister Dutch Strikers form won't have helped us much in terms of her value.
Any horse that fetches 1 million plus as a yearling is obviously no Danny De Vito but Maciano is still going to some animal in 12 months time. He's a chance in the Derby - he'll get the trip on his ear - but he's just a tad immature for mine. Take a look at him around the face and body. The only thing he doesn't have is acne.
Corporal Jones stays near the top of my list. Gee he's a well bodied horse. Not as long as Excellent but he still has a lot of physical resemblence to great stayer. He's relaxed bugger, just what you need to work with going through to a Derby. While he didn't necessarily show the lick he had in his two wins, I still liked the way he got home yesterday, largely under his own steam. Remember the miles would have been going into those legs the last month.
Keyora looked like his trainer after a month on the Gold Coast so I wouldn't read too much into his performance. In saying that I would have liked him to settle better yesterday.
Our Heir Apparent will have benefitted from the run too. He is pretty one-paced though and unless he can find some speed from somewhere I struggle to see him competing with Corporal Jones and Zarzuela. They had the blinkers on yesterday so they must have been expecting something.
I was taken with the run of Roger James filly. She may have finished closer with a clearer passage and didn't lose a lot in comparison with Corporal Jones up the straight. Roger does a great job with staying types at this time of year and isn't afraid to go the Derby way with fillies - Sixty Seconds ran second or third I recall - so I'll be keeping an eye on her progress.
No Emotion would have finished closer with a clearer run too. He's a nice type, in fact the best bodied Savabeel I've yet seen.
I had a peek at the two-year-olds too. Remember this race has been the superior guide to the Million and while I didn't necessarily see any Corsage runs this year, a couple will be competitive on the big night. The winner is strengthening up all the time and will continue to improve. Mark Walker's other runner, the Spartacus gelding, was also a nice run. They tend to go very hard in the Million and some winners have come from well back on the turn - think Vincent Mangano and last year, if Corsage had got one final gap, she probably would have got up.
The Bachelor Duke was another nice run, a pity about the ride. I had a look at his pedigree last night. It's that wonderful speed family of Clever Zoe etc that Waikato Stud have developed so well. I don't think he'll make the field for the Million but he should win a nice race somewhere.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A Smokey
I've been going over a lot of race replays the last few days for an article I'm doing on the NZ Derby.
He's no Derby horse, actually I don't even think he's eligible, but I may have found a horse capable of winning his way out of maidens pretty quickly.
Dullingham is his name. At his most recent start, which was just his second career run, he ran midfield to Green Supreme at Ellerslie on 28 December.
You may laught at this but I just liked the way he got round the corner into the straight. He took it at speed and it's never easy to do, particularly for an inexperienced horse.
Once he got balanced into the straight he was running on again at the finish despite looking like he wanted to hang in a bit. He'seems to have a nice stride on him.
Paste him away.
He's no Derby horse, actually I don't even think he's eligible, but I may have found a horse capable of winning his way out of maidens pretty quickly.
Dullingham is his name. At his most recent start, which was just his second career run, he ran midfield to Green Supreme at Ellerslie on 28 December.
You may laught at this but I just liked the way he got round the corner into the straight. He took it at speed and it's never easy to do, particularly for an inexperienced horse.
Once he got balanced into the straight he was running on again at the finish despite looking like he wanted to hang in a bit. He'seems to have a nice stride on him.
Paste him away.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Year's Day at Ellerslie
Track a good 2 and rail out 2.5 from Boxing Day
Race 2: F & F R90 1400. Tidy enough win by the Lohnro filly Tampiko fresh to the carnival coming off a R70 win at Tauranga where so showed good acceleration to beat the promising Shigeru. Looked a useful enough filly at three running 10 of 16 in the Eight Carat and was only having her 2nd run in a new campaign whereas some of the others had done some racing including She Rules who ran up to win but died on her run. She Rules has been up since the autumn and may have had enough. The Lohnro stock seem to be improving with age which is a good sign for the stallions career. Gee Scarlet Vanhara is another fine e.g of the good quality of mare Van Nistelrooy can leave. She is racing now like she s looking for 2000m.
Race 3: Eclipse Stakes 1200m. . Cellarmaster has his dad's great head and still has some growing to do so given what he's doing at two he should make a lovely three-year-old. Banchee is so much like her half sister in demeanour and type. In fact she maybe even more relaxed. While the two Walker runners by General Nediym don't look to me to have the scope to go on beyond this season I wouldn't discount them in the Karaka Million. Do the C.D babies have the wood on their Northern counterparts ? While I'm not convinced about the form from this race, Cellarmaster and Banchee are clearly 2 to follow and I would be checking to see what odds I could get for Banchee come Karaka Million time. Condescender - 4th - is getting better with experience but the fact that he was coming off a soft third on Boxing Day, gives more me reason to treat the form from this race wearily.
Race 4: R70 1600. Jena The Guru's win further franks the form from Corporal Jones win here at the twilight meeting; Tahana Strike has also since won. Monzieur Bond may have felt the ground. Apparently he is not the soundest of animals and was bandaged in front. He looked to run in slightly in the home straight. I thought the blinkers would work the oracle for So Pristine but she still seemed reluctant to strect out in traffic. She strikes me as one of those Zabeel's that needs space from other horses to let down so I have not put a line through her yet.
Race 5: Dunstan Stayers Final 2200. Drawing wide over 2200m is not the death sentence that it is at 2100 or certainly 2000m, at Ellerslie and Seaflyte had the form in R80 and 90 grades. He's one of those horses who races like he looks - rangy and tough, probably the Grosvenor factor. Heza Karma Karzi got found out by the strong tempo I suspect. Montetra was a great ride and needs moisture. The winner and runner up are clearly the two to follow but Montgomery is a lightly raced type worth keeping an eye on.
Race 6: Royal Stakes 2000m. A slow pace typical often of this race made it difficult for the staying type of fillies. Veronica Franco simply couldn't sprint with the other two. I thought Via Vento was in the same boat and by Cape Cross from a Sadlers Wells mare and a big type she has some scope and could be competitive at the Oaks distances. Is there a more successful purchaser of cheap horses than Trevor McKee? She's a nice cut of a filly too, typical of the family, not too long but with a good depth girth. First season sire Court of Jewels must have put a lot of people off but he was a handy Danehill sprinter from a Sir Tristram daughter of Eight Carat. La Collina is another attractive type of filly by Van Nisttlerooy. A bit finer than some of the Van fillies, her mother by O'Reilly - who is not the most attractive of mares herself - maybe responsible for passing on that lighter bone. Overall a race that panned out as most suspected, a slow tempo suited the class fillies with the stakes form at the shorter trips and the fillies stepping up from maidens and R70 could not use their staying potential to their advantage.
Race 7: Rich Hill Mile. Watch this replay more than once. A lot of form will come from it. I had been waiting for La Etoile to strike a firm track at a mile. The wide draw almost put me off but I'm glad I stuck with her. Sure she was always going to need luck but there was enough pace in the race. Huge run from Irish Opera who seems to save his best races for Ellerslie and he paraded probably superior to anything else on the whole card. Capacia, Dancing Jess and Casabella Lane were other particularly good runs but there were others. Even Santangelo went a nice race although her preliminary was poor and I didn't think she looked as well as she did in Christchurch. Maybe she s an autumn mare.
Race 8: Railway. Race was gifted to A Gold Trail which must rub salt into the wounds of the conections of Atapi. He's quite a typical Hussonet, strong and carries a lot of condition, although he maybe more short coupled than some of his stock. John Sargent had done a great job with Kiloton and his preliminary was most impressive. Snipza Gold got home nicely and looks a horse to follow at Trentham. I was a little surprised at the tactic s of Richard Beymer to be ridden off the speed as I couldn't see he had the finishing speed to win the race. Beautiful Girl had every chance and probably just lacked the class. She's a nice strong mare particularly through the girth and hindquarters. It's good to see that Round the World family throw up another nice horse because it has been quiet for quite some time.
Race 9: City of Auckland Cup. Another bouquet to John Sargent for getting Red Ruler back into winning form. I still recall that day he won the Championship Stakes at Ellerslie in the summer of his 3 year-old-year. The turn of foot he showed that day marked him down as a rare thoroughbred and while he still has to recapture quite that form it was good to see him back in the winners stall. Sterling Prince paraded fresh and raced accordingly. That's the tightrope trainers walk with horses I guess. He'd come back from Oz after 3 hard runs on successive weekends and all good horse husbandry tells you to freshen the horse up. The CD form held up in this race again with Fazza and Manonamission running 2/3. In a compressed handicap none of the lightweights were able to make the class jump which was compounded by the hard track and genuine pace. Calatrava gave me the impression in the parade ring that she did not back up from Boxing Day where shed looked magnificent. Fazza is an interesting type. He's almost a throwback I imagine to the stayers of the 50's and 60's, rangy, tough, plain looking and a tad ribby. Jeff Lynds horses often don't carry a lot of condition but it doesn't seem to do them any harm. I love the way Fazza just drops the bit in his races and switches off. He may have been more at home if the Wellington Cup was still at 3200 so I'm not sure the $8 is value at Tretham but I think he is the horse to start looking at for a big race up here on the 10 March.
Race 10: Spec Conditions Maiden 1400m. A comfortable win for a horse I've always liked(take a look at my Summer Six posting back a couple). She's lightened off a little so Richard Collet may have to take things easy with her this season but he's got great patience and is her perfect mentor. From that wonderful Georgetti family, the second horse Palatine will end up a nice horse also. He's a good type of Shinko King, not as long as some but typically still a bit weak. He went up as if he'd win at the 200m but just died on his run. Again he's another in just the right yard to let him find his potential. Not sure what to make of Affirmation. His coat looked a little dull although it's never easy to tell with greys. Being a stallion I wonder if he switched off when caught on the inside of horses. I've taken notes.
Probably now the best day for the racing pursit on our calendar.
Race 2: F & F R90 1400. Tidy enough win by the Lohnro filly Tampiko fresh to the carnival coming off a R70 win at Tauranga where so showed good acceleration to beat the promising Shigeru. Looked a useful enough filly at three running 10 of 16 in the Eight Carat and was only having her 2nd run in a new campaign whereas some of the others had done some racing including She Rules who ran up to win but died on her run. She Rules has been up since the autumn and may have had enough. The Lohnro stock seem to be improving with age which is a good sign for the stallions career. Gee Scarlet Vanhara is another fine e.g of the good quality of mare Van Nistelrooy can leave. She is racing now like she s looking for 2000m.
Race 3: Eclipse Stakes 1200m. . Cellarmaster has his dad's great head and still has some growing to do so given what he's doing at two he should make a lovely three-year-old. Banchee is so much like her half sister in demeanour and type. In fact she maybe even more relaxed. While the two Walker runners by General Nediym don't look to me to have the scope to go on beyond this season I wouldn't discount them in the Karaka Million. Do the C.D babies have the wood on their Northern counterparts ? While I'm not convinced about the form from this race, Cellarmaster and Banchee are clearly 2 to follow and I would be checking to see what odds I could get for Banchee come Karaka Million time. Condescender - 4th - is getting better with experience but the fact that he was coming off a soft third on Boxing Day, gives more me reason to treat the form from this race wearily.
Race 4: R70 1600. Jena The Guru's win further franks the form from Corporal Jones win here at the twilight meeting; Tahana Strike has also since won. Monzieur Bond may have felt the ground. Apparently he is not the soundest of animals and was bandaged in front. He looked to run in slightly in the home straight. I thought the blinkers would work the oracle for So Pristine but she still seemed reluctant to strect out in traffic. She strikes me as one of those Zabeel's that needs space from other horses to let down so I have not put a line through her yet.
Race 5: Dunstan Stayers Final 2200. Drawing wide over 2200m is not the death sentence that it is at 2100 or certainly 2000m, at Ellerslie and Seaflyte had the form in R80 and 90 grades. He's one of those horses who races like he looks - rangy and tough, probably the Grosvenor factor. Heza Karma Karzi got found out by the strong tempo I suspect. Montetra was a great ride and needs moisture. The winner and runner up are clearly the two to follow but Montgomery is a lightly raced type worth keeping an eye on.
Race 6: Royal Stakes 2000m. A slow pace typical often of this race made it difficult for the staying type of fillies. Veronica Franco simply couldn't sprint with the other two. I thought Via Vento was in the same boat and by Cape Cross from a Sadlers Wells mare and a big type she has some scope and could be competitive at the Oaks distances. Is there a more successful purchaser of cheap horses than Trevor McKee? She's a nice cut of a filly too, typical of the family, not too long but with a good depth girth. First season sire Court of Jewels must have put a lot of people off but he was a handy Danehill sprinter from a Sir Tristram daughter of Eight Carat. La Collina is another attractive type of filly by Van Nisttlerooy. A bit finer than some of the Van fillies, her mother by O'Reilly - who is not the most attractive of mares herself - maybe responsible for passing on that lighter bone. Overall a race that panned out as most suspected, a slow tempo suited the class fillies with the stakes form at the shorter trips and the fillies stepping up from maidens and R70 could not use their staying potential to their advantage.
Race 7: Rich Hill Mile. Watch this replay more than once. A lot of form will come from it. I had been waiting for La Etoile to strike a firm track at a mile. The wide draw almost put me off but I'm glad I stuck with her. Sure she was always going to need luck but there was enough pace in the race. Huge run from Irish Opera who seems to save his best races for Ellerslie and he paraded probably superior to anything else on the whole card. Capacia, Dancing Jess and Casabella Lane were other particularly good runs but there were others. Even Santangelo went a nice race although her preliminary was poor and I didn't think she looked as well as she did in Christchurch. Maybe she s an autumn mare.
Race 8: Railway. Race was gifted to A Gold Trail which must rub salt into the wounds of the conections of Atapi. He's quite a typical Hussonet, strong and carries a lot of condition, although he maybe more short coupled than some of his stock. John Sargent had done a great job with Kiloton and his preliminary was most impressive. Snipza Gold got home nicely and looks a horse to follow at Trentham. I was a little surprised at the tactic s of Richard Beymer to be ridden off the speed as I couldn't see he had the finishing speed to win the race. Beautiful Girl had every chance and probably just lacked the class. She's a nice strong mare particularly through the girth and hindquarters. It's good to see that Round the World family throw up another nice horse because it has been quiet for quite some time.
Race 9: City of Auckland Cup. Another bouquet to John Sargent for getting Red Ruler back into winning form. I still recall that day he won the Championship Stakes at Ellerslie in the summer of his 3 year-old-year. The turn of foot he showed that day marked him down as a rare thoroughbred and while he still has to recapture quite that form it was good to see him back in the winners stall. Sterling Prince paraded fresh and raced accordingly. That's the tightrope trainers walk with horses I guess. He'd come back from Oz after 3 hard runs on successive weekends and all good horse husbandry tells you to freshen the horse up. The CD form held up in this race again with Fazza and Manonamission running 2/3. In a compressed handicap none of the lightweights were able to make the class jump which was compounded by the hard track and genuine pace. Calatrava gave me the impression in the parade ring that she did not back up from Boxing Day where shed looked magnificent. Fazza is an interesting type. He's almost a throwback I imagine to the stayers of the 50's and 60's, rangy, tough, plain looking and a tad ribby. Jeff Lynds horses often don't carry a lot of condition but it doesn't seem to do them any harm. I love the way Fazza just drops the bit in his races and switches off. He may have been more at home if the Wellington Cup was still at 3200 so I'm not sure the $8 is value at Tretham but I think he is the horse to start looking at for a big race up here on the 10 March.
Race 10: Spec Conditions Maiden 1400m. A comfortable win for a horse I've always liked(take a look at my Summer Six posting back a couple). She's lightened off a little so Richard Collet may have to take things easy with her this season but he's got great patience and is her perfect mentor. From that wonderful Georgetti family, the second horse Palatine will end up a nice horse also. He's a good type of Shinko King, not as long as some but typically still a bit weak. He went up as if he'd win at the 200m but just died on his run. Again he's another in just the right yard to let him find his potential. Not sure what to make of Affirmation. His coat looked a little dull although it's never easy to tell with greys. Being a stallion I wonder if he switched off when caught on the inside of horses. I've taken notes.
Probably now the best day for the racing pursit on our calendar.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Ellerslie Twilight
If we get a night like tonight tomorrow, Ellerslie will go off.
The quaddie looks gettable, but take note that the rail is out 12.5m.
Zambezi looks a good way to start the night.
Here's my thoughts on the quaddie.
First Leg Race 5: Our Dream Catcher and Blonde Bombshell bring the best formlines and are must includes. Glendoveer who was second at her only start wanted to lay out at Te Rapa and should appreciate going the opposite way round tomorrow. November Rain is a nice filly but gets back and could struggle to make ground with the rail out. You should be ok with 1, 2 and 4.
2nd Leg Race 6: The aristocratic Maciano was running on nicely enough for third on debut and the first two home are classy sorts who would win this. He has drawn well and should get a soft run so is a must include. Mangaroa Molly is a promising type who has been crying out for 1600m but gets back. Neptune could get away with a soft lead and be hard to run down. The hardest leg if Maciano is not what we all hope he is. 4, 8, 9, and 12.
3rd Leg Race 7: You can get away with only two here, Nadege and Gallant. Nadege has struck me as a Cups horse and 1600m is ideal at this stage of her preparation. She goes up 3kgs on her last start but is a big strong mare who should cope. Gallant made ground strongly from off the pace last start and should run handier from the draw. Like Nadege he's always looked like a horse capable of reaching a much higher mark. 5 and 11.
4th Leg Race 8: So Pristine gets in well here for a two win horse and has the draw to sit handy. Tanha Strike may have won his only start at Dargaville but he ran time and had looked smart at the trials previously. He also has drawn well and should be hard to run down. 5 and 7 in the last leg.
Should be an excellent nights racing
The quaddie looks gettable, but take note that the rail is out 12.5m.
Zambezi looks a good way to start the night.
Here's my thoughts on the quaddie.
First Leg Race 5: Our Dream Catcher and Blonde Bombshell bring the best formlines and are must includes. Glendoveer who was second at her only start wanted to lay out at Te Rapa and should appreciate going the opposite way round tomorrow. November Rain is a nice filly but gets back and could struggle to make ground with the rail out. You should be ok with 1, 2 and 4.
2nd Leg Race 6: The aristocratic Maciano was running on nicely enough for third on debut and the first two home are classy sorts who would win this. He has drawn well and should get a soft run so is a must include. Mangaroa Molly is a promising type who has been crying out for 1600m but gets back. Neptune could get away with a soft lead and be hard to run down. The hardest leg if Maciano is not what we all hope he is. 4, 8, 9, and 12.
3rd Leg Race 7: You can get away with only two here, Nadege and Gallant. Nadege has struck me as a Cups horse and 1600m is ideal at this stage of her preparation. She goes up 3kgs on her last start but is a big strong mare who should cope. Gallant made ground strongly from off the pace last start and should run handier from the draw. Like Nadege he's always looked like a horse capable of reaching a much higher mark. 5 and 11.
4th Leg Race 8: So Pristine gets in well here for a two win horse and has the draw to sit handy. Tanha Strike may have won his only start at Dargaville but he ran time and had looked smart at the trials previously. He also has drawn well and should be hard to run down. 5 and 7 in the last leg.
Should be an excellent nights racing
Sunday, December 6, 2009
My Summer Six
I always try and slip out to Avondale for their Guineas. It's no longer the great Derby guide but it s still capable of throwing up a good horse.
On paper this year's field looked a bit down in quality, certainly compared to last year, and I thought the race panned out that way. Only four lengths covered the field across the line, bar one horse.
I would be following Celtic Fantasy out of the race. I like his style of racing; he goes forward, relaxes and scraps. It would be interesting to see him get some cover in a race; he maybe able to really let down. Remember he's doing this after just three starts. There's upside with this guy and he's bred and races like he'll get over more ground.
Celtic Fantasy is an interesting horse on type. I'd expected to see either a big tall Giant's Causeway or some resemblence to Pentire Celbre his damsire, in other words lightly boned. Instead he looks to have thrown to the Mill Reef line through his grand dams sire Doyuon. He's generously barelled and proportioned through the shoulder, of medium size and quite athletic.
He didn't get hot in the yard but he had two handlers with him, just more of an indication he's very much learning his trade.
Here's six horses worth following over the summer.
Wealth Princess: A mark of a good horse is an ability to win regardless of race pattern, and that's something this four-year-old mare has already exhibited in her unbeaten three-start career. Blessed with rare aceleration she is able to get out of tight spots as she showed with her win at Te Rapa on Labour Monday. The 41's quote for the Railway is way overs.
Attackum: Running on nicely freshup behind Richard Breymer at Counties. Still lacking some ringcraft but very gifted sprinter as his domestic efforts last autumn, showed running fast sectionals and carrying weight. Subsequently ventured to Australia where his best performance was a third behind rising star Battlefield. Adds intrigue to an even lot of sprinters set to tackle the Railway and Telegraph.
Our Heir Apparent: Never a hope in the VRC Derby after getting back in a slowly run contest. By Zabeel there's good reason to believe he'll be further improved this preparation. Doesn't have the tactical speed of Monaco Consul but if it's a genuinely run NZ Derby he's a legitimate danger to the likely favourite.
Leica Scotch: I must confess to just having a "gut feel"about this Zabeel entire. First up after a year away he ran home strongly for second over 1400m to promising mare Dasoudi. Should improve with the run and more distance but don't get too carried away second up as I'm picking the fresh up run will have taken the sharpness from his legs. Will probably target a race like the Dunstan Final but I pick we can pour rather a tall one after a race such as the Hawkes Bay Cup.
O'Cartier: Showed at the recent Cup Carnival that he had recaptured the form he displayed up north last summer when fourth in a very strong Couplands Mile then backing up to win over 1400m in fast time on Cup day with 58.5kgs. Not a pretty horse particularly when at full gallop but blessed with plenty of heart and class. Remember he gave Wall Street 4.5kgs in the Couplands.
November Rain: This seasons three year-old fillies crop looks to have depth and although currently a maiden this filly won't be out of her depth aginst the better types once the distances get past 1600m. Her sire Stravinsky while better known for his sprinter/milers has left Oaks winners such as Serenade Rose who like November Rain features the stamina influence Sadlers Wells in her female remove.
On paper this year's field looked a bit down in quality, certainly compared to last year, and I thought the race panned out that way. Only four lengths covered the field across the line, bar one horse.
I would be following Celtic Fantasy out of the race. I like his style of racing; he goes forward, relaxes and scraps. It would be interesting to see him get some cover in a race; he maybe able to really let down. Remember he's doing this after just three starts. There's upside with this guy and he's bred and races like he'll get over more ground.
Celtic Fantasy is an interesting horse on type. I'd expected to see either a big tall Giant's Causeway or some resemblence to Pentire Celbre his damsire, in other words lightly boned. Instead he looks to have thrown to the Mill Reef line through his grand dams sire Doyuon. He's generously barelled and proportioned through the shoulder, of medium size and quite athletic.
He didn't get hot in the yard but he had two handlers with him, just more of an indication he's very much learning his trade.
Here's six horses worth following over the summer.
Wealth Princess: A mark of a good horse is an ability to win regardless of race pattern, and that's something this four-year-old mare has already exhibited in her unbeaten three-start career. Blessed with rare aceleration she is able to get out of tight spots as she showed with her win at Te Rapa on Labour Monday. The 41's quote for the Railway is way overs.
Attackum: Running on nicely freshup behind Richard Breymer at Counties. Still lacking some ringcraft but very gifted sprinter as his domestic efforts last autumn, showed running fast sectionals and carrying weight. Subsequently ventured to Australia where his best performance was a third behind rising star Battlefield. Adds intrigue to an even lot of sprinters set to tackle the Railway and Telegraph.
Our Heir Apparent: Never a hope in the VRC Derby after getting back in a slowly run contest. By Zabeel there's good reason to believe he'll be further improved this preparation. Doesn't have the tactical speed of Monaco Consul but if it's a genuinely run NZ Derby he's a legitimate danger to the likely favourite.
Leica Scotch: I must confess to just having a "gut feel"about this Zabeel entire. First up after a year away he ran home strongly for second over 1400m to promising mare Dasoudi. Should improve with the run and more distance but don't get too carried away second up as I'm picking the fresh up run will have taken the sharpness from his legs. Will probably target a race like the Dunstan Final but I pick we can pour rather a tall one after a race such as the Hawkes Bay Cup.
O'Cartier: Showed at the recent Cup Carnival that he had recaptured the form he displayed up north last summer when fourth in a very strong Couplands Mile then backing up to win over 1400m in fast time on Cup day with 58.5kgs. Not a pretty horse particularly when at full gallop but blessed with plenty of heart and class. Remember he gave Wall Street 4.5kgs in the Couplands.
November Rain: This seasons three year-old fillies crop looks to have depth and although currently a maiden this filly won't be out of her depth aginst the better types once the distances get past 1600m. Her sire Stravinsky while better known for his sprinter/milers has left Oaks winners such as Serenade Rose who like November Rain features the stamina influence Sadlers Wells in her female remove.
You ve got to love summer.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ellerslie Observations 28 November 2009
Ventured out. Amazing sometimes what you find when you least expect it..
There was a good vibe on course which came about on the back of the day been a NZ Racing Xmas at the Races initiative. An encouraging start for the concept.
The rail out 10m gave on pace horses a distinct advantage. Unlike Wanganui the club dodged a bullet with ominous dark clouds all afternoon, which in a stroke of fortune, only displayed their venom as the last race left the gates.
You'll have read about the performances of Desoudi and Run Like Al so I'll leave them alone. Here are some others that caught my eye.
Leica Scotch: An interesting prospect this guy. 1400m fresh up for a year, no trial or blinkers; not exactly characteristics to inspire you to back a Zabeel are they?
He maybe small in stature but he makes up for it. His eye reeks of courage and when he walks, his hindquarters literally touch his ears. Reminds me on type of Hades and Vengeance of Rain.
Got home nicely for second to Desoudi. I don't know what Roger James has in mind but it wouldn't surprise me if he went via the Dunstan to something later on like the HB Cup.
Showcause: Probably still 12 months away physically. Never a winning hope on Saturday but as is his pattern, his best work was his last 100m. Strikes me as a genuine two miler who given his liking for Ellerslie could end up back here in 15 months for an important assignment.
Martial Art: When the moneys goes on a horse from a big stable like it did on this guy on Saturday, it's usually not miss directed.
Was going to win the moment he entered the parade ring. A strongly made individual he looked months ahead of the rest on maturity and he knew it. I've been looking for an NZ Derby horse to follow through to the race and I think I've found him.
Charlotte Russe: More attractive than a lot of Red Ransoms, particularly around the head, which she probably gets from her grand dam who could leave a stunning yearling.
Winding into the race when denied racing room on at least two occasions in the straight, this four-year-old mare will end up a live chance in a good staying handicap before seasons end.
He's Glovin It: I got caught talking to someone and missed seeing him in the yard but looked a lovely big scopey type in his preliminary. Actually could see some resemblance to the Towkay-Millie Munroe filly now racing as The Blonde Bombshell, who hails from the same family. Nice family this and moving again after a hiatius.
I like staying horses lwho get home under their steam and hit the line, and this guys has some of these traits.
I left in the pouring rain thinking one of these horses is going to win a big race, one day, somewhere. Maybe the next month or 6 weeks will tell me which one. It could well be the little guy with small horses syndrome.
There was a good vibe on course which came about on the back of the day been a NZ Racing Xmas at the Races initiative. An encouraging start for the concept.
The rail out 10m gave on pace horses a distinct advantage. Unlike Wanganui the club dodged a bullet with ominous dark clouds all afternoon, which in a stroke of fortune, only displayed their venom as the last race left the gates.
You'll have read about the performances of Desoudi and Run Like Al so I'll leave them alone. Here are some others that caught my eye.
Leica Scotch: An interesting prospect this guy. 1400m fresh up for a year, no trial or blinkers; not exactly characteristics to inspire you to back a Zabeel are they?
He maybe small in stature but he makes up for it. His eye reeks of courage and when he walks, his hindquarters literally touch his ears. Reminds me on type of Hades and Vengeance of Rain.
Got home nicely for second to Desoudi. I don't know what Roger James has in mind but it wouldn't surprise me if he went via the Dunstan to something later on like the HB Cup.
Showcause: Probably still 12 months away physically. Never a winning hope on Saturday but as is his pattern, his best work was his last 100m. Strikes me as a genuine two miler who given his liking for Ellerslie could end up back here in 15 months for an important assignment.
Martial Art: When the moneys goes on a horse from a big stable like it did on this guy on Saturday, it's usually not miss directed.
Was going to win the moment he entered the parade ring. A strongly made individual he looked months ahead of the rest on maturity and he knew it. I've been looking for an NZ Derby horse to follow through to the race and I think I've found him.
Charlotte Russe: More attractive than a lot of Red Ransoms, particularly around the head, which she probably gets from her grand dam who could leave a stunning yearling.
Winding into the race when denied racing room on at least two occasions in the straight, this four-year-old mare will end up a live chance in a good staying handicap before seasons end.
He's Glovin It: I got caught talking to someone and missed seeing him in the yard but looked a lovely big scopey type in his preliminary. Actually could see some resemblance to the Towkay-Millie Munroe filly now racing as The Blonde Bombshell, who hails from the same family. Nice family this and moving again after a hiatius.
I like staying horses lwho get home under their steam and hit the line, and this guys has some of these traits.
I left in the pouring rain thinking one of these horses is going to win a big race, one day, somewhere. Maybe the next month or 6 weeks will tell me which one. It could well be the little guy with small horses syndrome.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Van Nistelrooy: Finding His Mark
Synchronicity is pretty neat.
I was doing a bit of thinking this week about the impact here of Van Nistelrooy, fuelled of course by his daughters 'almost' group 2 double at Pukekohe last weekend.
You know how sometimes you see a horse for the first time and it stops you in your tracks? I found one of those today, a filly, hiding beneath the trees in the back parade ring at Ellerslie before the sixth, a maiden race over 1400m.
This girl didn't need a spray tan or cosmetic surgery; a lovely rich chestnut, she had the mid section of a Swedish Pilate's instructor; the shoulder of an Olympic butterfly swimmer, and floated - even at a walk, like an angel.
A rye smile came over me when I opened my race book to find she was a filly by Van Nistelrooy. I had to come home and write something.
I don't recall a hue and cry from breeders when Van Nistelrooy stopped shuttling to NZ after the 2006 season.Sure there was some promising types around but for a two-year-old group two winning son of Storm Cat, breeders had expected, rightly or wrongly , fast early maturing horses. Pit Lane, from the Marauding mare Disco Girl, won three successive races at 2 in Victoria, and then ran midfield in the Hustlers's Caulfield Guineas, but on the whole you'd have been kind saying it was a 'promising' start.
After his daughter Boundless triumphed at long odds in the 2008 New Zealand Oaks, I like many I suspect thought that here was simply another Philco or Regal Empress.
Okay her unlucky second in the AJC Oaks two months later showed that Boundless was actually a high class staying filly. Still, it was very much a one swallow team at that stage.
Unfortunately Boundless couldn't carry on the VN momentum last season for after a close fourth in the Kelt on an interrupted preparation, she failed to fire in Australia and went to the paddock.
But almost on cue the last twelve months has seen the emergence of some high class female sprinter/miler types by the stallion headed by Telegraph place getter Ruud Van Slaats, Anniversary Handicap winner Striker and the stakeswinning Bella Renza.And another mare who looks capable of joining those stakeswinning ranks is the lightly tried Scarlett Vanhara. A fast finishing and slightly unlucky third in the Breeders Stakes at Pukekohe, the beautifully athletic four-year old, expertly handled by trainer Ross Elliot, should be very competitive in summer races like the Rich Hill and Thorndon Mile's.
I can already hear some of you saying but what about his colts. Fair enough he seems a bit under represented there but if you understand Hong Kong form you'll appreciate just how good a horse More Bountiful is. Voted their Most Improved Horse for the 2007/08 season, the Helen Phinney bred gelding converted that promise to a group one win last season and once again he'll be competitive with HK's best this season between 1400 and 2000m.
Another horse capable of adding to the VN momentum is the three-year filly La Collina who ran just back of midfield in Friday's Levin Classic.
Which leads me to the question as to how are we likely to mark VN. I think sometimes we forget how few stallions actually 'make it'. But what is making it ? I think sometimes we can be too narrow with that definition. Does it always have to mean just stakeswinning progeny?
Some stallions can contribute to the evolution of our breed in other ways, be it as broodmare sires or just simply as propagators of phenotypes. I can already hear some saying but if you can't pass on class what good are you doing the gene pool. Now my school science marks were only marginally better than my french grades but I do believe you are good servant to your breed by simply passing on desirable physical attributes. For it's when these genes are united with the right class factor genes, and sometimes it takes a generation or too, that a high class horse is the result.
So what's the VN's legacy going to be in these parts? Having left a number of high class female performers re known for their toughness and athleticism, these mares will become welcome additions to our broodmare gene pool in the years ahead. And that's where I feel his presence will be most felt.
Despite his improving statistic's I suspect VN won't be rushed back to our shores any time soon but in his own way he's left a mark on our industry.
By the way that sweet looking filly's name is Denali Dancer. She'll keep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
