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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Cups king Mahrajaan made his first public appearance in more than 12 months when he finished third behind Group One winner Provence in his 1100m heat at the Ellerslie trials on Thursday. He was victorious in the 2023 edition of the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) before winning the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie four months later, placing the imported son of Kitten’s Joy at the top of New Zealand’s staying ranks. Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray decided to test his talent in Australia, where he finished last in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) before returning in the spring where he beat just two runners home in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m). He was set to line-up in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but those dreams were dashed after he was withdrawn on veterinary advice, and he hasn’t been sighted publicly until Thursday’s hit-out. “It has been a long road,” Ritchie said. “We were taken out of the Melbourne Cup by the vets on the morning of acceptances, which was a little bit disappointing, but they have their rules, and we didn’t want to risk the horse. “From that point, we decided to give him a little bit of a break. We put him on the water treadmill, mucked around with him and gave him plenty of time, and now he is on track for the Auckland Cup.” Ritchie has been pleased with the way Mahrajaan has returned and he was buoyed by his trial performance this week. “He looks unbelievable, he has put a huge amount of weight on, the majority of it muscle, which is great because he is going to need to carry a bit of pudding in the Auckland Cup,” Ritchie said. “He won’t have the luxury of being on the bottom of the handicap anymore. “His trial was fantastic. He hasn’t been presented for over 12 months publicly at all, so to come out and run third to a Group One winner was great. “He never really came off the bridle and Sam (Weatherley, jockey) came and galloped him before he went to the trials and he said he feels like an open class sprinter. Obviously raceday kicks in and he is a genuine stayer. “He seems to be in the right sort of order and I think we are aiming at the right race. If we stick to our target, hopefully we hit the mark in the grand final. He will be uncompetitive over the shorter distances on his way through, but he has won two races in New Zealand over two miles, so that’s his obvious forte.” Stablemate Eye Candy also made her first public appearance of the season at the Ellerslie trials, and while Ritchie was less upbeat about her 1100m hit-out, he said it was good to get a line on her at the start of her preparation. “We toyed whether to trial her or not, she was only just ready,” he said. “She is a big, thick-winded mare and she was as a three-year-old, so she was well in need of that. I would suggest she is going to need another trial before we present her at the races. “She has had a day out and that is what we wanted to do. We have obviously got some work to do to get her fitter before we present her on raceday.” Eye Candy had a pleasing three-year-old term, placing in both the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m), and Ritchie is hoping she can return to that level. The stable was also represented at the trials by Group Two winner Nereus and Alaskan, who were unplaced in their 1100m trials. “I am delighted with Nereus,” Ritchie said. “I thought he was really attacking the line after the post, he didn’t want to pull up. The signs of his willingness have certainly not gone away and he is going to be a lovely Cups horse for us over the summer. “He spelled terrific. He has never been a horse who has been a big, strong horse, but he is carrying more condition than he has ever carried before. We are really looking forward to him when he gets over a mile and further. He has run the odd cheeky race first-up as well. “He is a really nice handicapper who has been a genuine good horse for the stable. “Alaskan is a mare early in the season I thought might get to a New Zealand Cup, but she disappointed us at the trials and races, so we had to back off and start again. “I was looking for an improved effort from her (at the trials) and I think we got that. Her first trial was substandard and then we took her to the races at Ruakaka after taking her to the beach and doing some work with her, but she was very disappointing. “The track was a bit off and we know she needs it dry, but having said that, she has looked fantastic and she has had a summer coat, one of the first ones to come through with a summer coat. “She presented in great order yesterday, but that just gives us the confidence to go back to the races and being low in the grades, in a 65, we will find a nice mile for her. If she is anywhere near her best she will run well.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray teamed up with The Oaks Stud two years ago to win the Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool with Nassak Diamond, and they are hoping to do the same this year with Tempest Moon. The Cambridge trainers have trekked south to Christchurch with the five-year-old daughter of Turn Me Loose where they will try and gain a berth in next month’s marathon feature when they contest the NZB Airfreight Road To The Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton on Saturday. The winner gains an automatic entry into the Jericho Cup, and with their past success in the race, her connections are keen to contest it once more. “Rick Williams (The Oaks Stud General Manager) and I don’t mind going to Warrnambool,” Ritchie quipped. “We have had a great time with Where Are You when she was 100-1 and ran third. We realised it is a great race to win with Nassak Diamond a couple of years ago. If we can get another starter over there, we will be tickled pink. “We will be doing our absolute best to try and get her to that Jericho Cup.” Tempest Moon heads into Saturday in good form, having won over 2100m at Te Aroha last month before running fourth in the Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupo. “I thought her run at Taupo was exceptional,” Ritchie said. “She is probably running into horses that are better performed on wetter tracks and she doesn’t mind it firmer. “She just got caught on the corner and got shuffled one or two spots further back than George (Rooke, jockey) would have liked, but she certainly rocketed home. “She is going to love Riccarton.” Closer to their Cambridge base, the stable are looking forward to the debut of Cambridge Stud filly Sovrana in the TAB 1400 at Ellerslie. The three-year-old daughter of Reliable Man has placed in both of her trials to date, and Ritchie believes she is capable of some lofty targets later this season. “It is not easy having your debut at Ellerslie, they usually get strong fields and this one is no different,” he said. “She has drawn the bullet (1), and I see her as a lovely staying filly, she may even develop into an Oaks filly. “You can’t suggest that she may be an Oaks filly and not expect some form of performance, but I will also expect 1400m would be well short of her best. Having said that, she has got a touch of class about her and I think she will run a cheeky race if she can get the breaks.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Now Hong Kong based jockey Hugh Bowman said he felt proud to get the call up from Chris Waller to ride Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) in the final Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley before the track undergoes a redevelopment. Bowman and Waller combined with Winx (Street Cry) to win the Cox Plate on four occasions, and the jockey accepted the ride on Aeliana after Waller sent out a call last week. Aeliana is one of three runners Waller has in Saturday’s Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley joining last year’s winner Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock). “Moonee Valley brings many great memories to both of us as a partnership,” Bowman said. “The history of Winx and with Chris deciding to run Aeliana, he reached out to see if I would be interest in coming back. “I was delighted to get the call, really proud to be back on Australian soil and really proud to be competing in the final event on this course before it is redeveloped.” Aeliana ($8) sits on the fourth line of betting in Saturday’s race behind Via Sistina ($2.20), Antino ($3.90) and Treasurethe Moment. Bowman said he takes confidence in winning a fifth Cox Plate by the decision of Waller’s in running Aeliana on Saturday. “That is enough for me,” Bowman said. “I have had absolutely nothing to do with her (Aeliana) physically, but I’ve watched her replays, intently, and I have a good understanding from doing that. “I think it’s a very interesting race. All the lead up form is there for everyone to see, but all the races have been run so slow. “With Globe coming out, although he led at some ridiculously slow pace the other day, he did appear to be the natural leader in the race. “It’s a really interesting event. It’s going to be extremely tactical, but ultimately you will see the best horse come to the fore.” While there have been many to be dismissive of Aeliana fifth place finish in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4, Bowman thought there was plenty of merit in the run. “If she had had the opportunity to build her momentum and get into gear, she could have easily finished a couple of lengths closer,” Bowman said. “Even a length closer and she would be on the forefront of everyone’s minds. “This style of race (on Saturday) is not going to suit the more favoured runners, and I think a more genuine speed will play into everyone’s hands. “I have a healthy respect for Antino, particularly with the uncertainty of how the race will be run. “I just want to go out there and do my job and ensure Aeliana can run a peak performance and if circumstances suit, who is to say she can’t get over the top of them. “I truly believe she can.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
A two-pronged tilt at the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa on Monday is set to headline a busy weekend for the newest trainer inducted into New Zealand’s 1000-win club. Andrew Forsman, who celebrated his 1000th domestic success with Berry Brown at Matamata last Friday, will have runners at Ellerslie, Te Rapa, The Valley and Sale over the next three days. That contingent includes Quondo and Virgo Viva in the Sarten Memorial, which is a key lead-up for the Gr.1 New Zealand Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 8 and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at the same venue a week later. The Sarten will be the third career start for Quondo, who is rated a $10 chance in the TAB’s 2000 Guineas market. The Wootton Bassett gelding won on debut at Matamata on September 12, then ran a gallant second behind Sarten rival Magic Carpet in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa on September 27. “That was a very brave run in the Guineas,” Forsman said. “He was caught wide without cover all the way and stuck on really well down the straight. I’ve been happy with him in between times, and if anything, I think he’s improved.” Ribchester filly Virgo Viva is being thrown in at the deep end in only her second career start, having cleared maiden ranks on debut over 1300m at Taupo on October 10. The TAB offers a quote of $26 for her to win the 1000 Guineas. “To win the way she did on debut was a good effort,” Forsman said. “The horse in front got away on her a little bit and she was still quite green. It was the first time she’s been off the bridle and really asked to quicken, and she did a good job. “It was the run of a horse that’s going to get better and better with more racing. She’s up against more experienced horses on Monday and from a wide barrier (the outside gate in a 12-horse field), so she’s got a few things against her. But I think she’s up there with them on ability.” Forsman’s other Te Rapa runners are Mary Shan, Kitty Flash and Hard Roca. The Cambridge trainer hopes to see Mary Shan bounce back to top form in the Devan Plastics (1400m). She was an impressive first-up winner at Wanganui on August 30, then beat only one horse home as the favourite in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Hawera on October 4. “That was a very testing heavy track, and unfortunately it was just far too deep at her,” Forsman said. “It was a real shame, but it was a race that we had to have a go at. I’m just hoping for better conditions at Te Rapa on Monday and a performance that’s more like what she’s capable of. “Kitty Flash has been off the scene for a fair while. She went to Melbourne in the autumn and had a bit of an injury setback. We gave her time and she’s come back in great order. “Hard Roca’s going well. He didn’t have any favours from a tough barrier last start but was very game. I think the 1300m will suit him on Monday.” Forsman’s Ellerslie representative is Hinekaha in the Trackside.co.nz (1400m). The daughter of Savabeel won twice last season including the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m), and she also placed behind Checkmate in the Listed Armacup 3YO Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie. Hinekaha kicked off her four-year-old season in an unsuitable 1200m sprint at Ellerslie on September 20, crossing the line in fifth place and only 2.1 lengths from the winner. “That was a really good effort first-up,” Forsman said. “It was just a bit short of her best distance and she peaked on her run a little bit. “It’s been a long wait since then, trying to find a suitable race for her on a decent track. But I’ve been very happy with her at home. She’s been working up really well and is heading into Saturday in good order.” Forsman is in no rush to make big plans with Hinekaha this season. “With such a long time between runs, it almost feels like we’re starting her campaign over again this weekend,” he said. “I just want to get her back winning first, and then see where we get to from there. With these horses that show the ability that she did as a three-year-old, there’s always a period of finding your way with them in their four-year-old seasons.” Forsman is also pleased with his multiple black-type winner Positivity, who will line up in Saturday’s Gr.3 Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley. “I think she’s going really well in this preparation,” Forsman said. “Her last-start run for seventh in the Coongy (Gr.3, 2000m) might look a bit disappointing on paper, but she didn’t have all favours. She was posted wide, which is never easy at Caulfield, let alone when the rail is out 12m. “She has to carry 59kg on Saturday and is giving a good amount of weight to some progressive horses, and she might be a bit more dour than some of them. We’re just going to try keeping her in mares’ company and seeing how she measures up.” View the full article
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