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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Matamata trainer Pam Gererad will head south to Trentham on Saturday with a quality team of three runners engaged for the day’s feature meeting. Spearheading the attack will be last start Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Romanoff who will be stepping out on raceday for the first time since defeating stablemate Affirmative Action in the Riccarton blue riband classic. His mission on the weekend is the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m) with Gerard keen to see him perform to expectations as she prepares the son of Belardo for a pair of major assignments at Ellerslie. “He had a nice freshen-up after returning from Christchurch and this was the race we felt would be best to kick him off in,” Gerard said. “He has been working along nicely at home and we want to see him perform to expectations, albeit knowing this isn’t his main aim and that the 1400m might be a little on the short side for him. “He is a real character and loves a trip away as he just puts his head down and eats everything you put in front of him, so the whole journey to Wellington and back, along with the race will be perfect for him.” Safely through Saturday, Gerard is eying the $1.5million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on 24 January followed by the $4million NZB Kiwi (1500m) on 7 March where Romanoff will take up the Canterbury Jockey Club slot he secured with his 2000 Guines victory. “As long as he pulls up well on Saturday he will then go straight to the Karaka Million and then into the NZB Kiwi,” Gerard said. “The key will be to keep him fresh enough while also getting the miles into his legs that he needs, so it is likely he will have an exhibition gallop or similar between those two races. “He has earned his chance at those races and having a runner with a decent chance is what racing is all about.” The second member of Gerard’s Trentham team is last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Dubai Gold who will tackle the Gr.3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Stakes (1600m). Gerard admitted she has been struggling to find appropriate races for the four-year-old mare after the first two starts in her current campaign. “She (Dubai Gold) trialled really well before her first-up run at Counties back in November but then everything went wrong during the race where she got trapped wide throughout,” she said. “We really wanted to see where she stood at weight-for-age against the best fillies and mares so we rolled the dice and ran her second up at Te Rapa in the Cal Isuzu (Gr.2, 1600m) where she just got outsprinted in the closing stages, while she was also feeling the hard track a little. “That has convinced me she really is a better mare in the autumn as that was where she excelled last season when there was some cut in the tracks. “It has been tough to find a suitable race for her, but the pieces have fallen into place for Trentham as they have had a bit of rain, she loves the track and she really impressed me this week with her work. “She has dappled up nicely so we decided on Friday morning to send her south and I’m hoping that is the right decision. “If she goes well we can go back for the Remutaka Classic ($350,000, 2100m) on the 31st (of January) and then look again at what is available after that. “She is still on her learning curve and we know if she comes up like she did last year then there is always Brisbane in the Winter as an option.” Last start maiden winner Dragon Blossom rounds out Gerard’s Trentham team and her trainer believes she is a strong chance in the Blue Star Group 1600. “She (Dragon Blossom) is flying and while she took a long time to win a maiden she had been running in very strong fields without much luck,” she said. “She is only small but she is tough and has been to Trentham before and gone a cracker, so I’m hoping she can do the same again on Saturday.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Matamata trainer Cody Cole is following a similar blueprint to last year with his Group One performer Navigator, who will head into the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday fresh-up. The six-year-old son of El Roca was also in a fresh state when placing in the race last year, and Cole saw no reason not to follow that same path this year. “We did that last year with him and that’s the way to have him,” Cole said. “He performed well there last year and I feel like we have got him going a bit better than that this year.” The Navigator hasn’t been sighted on raceday since he was unplaced in his sole start over spring in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie in September, but Cole is happy with the way he has come up this time in and is hopeful of a bold showing on Saturday. “He had a jumpout at Te Rapa and he won that comfortably on the bridle, so we know he is back to himself,” Cole said. “He had a few niggles in the spring and we have put those behind us and hopefully the best version of him turns up tomorrow, and if he does, he shouldn’t be too far off them.” Cole is also excited about the prospects of two-year-old filly Silhouette, who will line-up in the Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes (1100m). The daughter of Armory won on debut over 900m at Trentham in October, and she was set to return to the Upper Hutt track last month to contest the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), but a bout of colic thwarted those plans. She has made a pleasing recovery and Cole is hopeful she can secure black-type this weekend. “She was meant to go down for the Wakefield, but she had a bit of colic leading into it and disappointedly we didn’t get there, but she seems right now,” he said. “They don’t give away stakes races, but she looks to be a nice chance on paper and if she performs up to her best, and puts the last couple of weeks behind us, I think she can go pretty close to it.” Stablemate Bow Hill will be given her first tilt at stakes level when she contests the Listed Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts LTD Marton Cup (2200m), and she heads into the race in good form, having placed in her last two outings. “It is a bit of a throw at the stumps with her but she is probably in the best form that we have had her in,” Cole said. “She has run a couple of really bold races in her last two starts and she has done it the hard way coming from back. I think she deserves a chance and a bit of the first three money would be great.” Latrelle just missed out on securing black-type when fourth in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Trentham last month and Cole said she has progressed in the right direction since, believing she will be a major player in the Gr.3 Ron Stanley Memorial Phar Lap Trophy (1600m) on Saturday. “She was unlucky not to get a bit of black-type there last time at Trentham in the Group Two,” Cole said. “She was three-wide with no cover in weight-for-age, and it took its toll in the last 50m and she just came to the end of it. She will be better for that run, she has bounced through it well and she typically goes well at Trentham.” There’s plenty of pressure on Cole’s shoulders as his promising filly Cheerio gets set to contest the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m) carrying the well-known silks of owner-breeder John Messara of Arrowfield Stud. The daughter of Maurice placed on debut over 1200m at Tauranga in October before winning at Ruakaka last month and will take on a strong line-up when making her stakes debut this weekend. “There is a little bit pressure going around in those silks,” Cole said. “There are some well proven horses there, it is a pretty tough field. The manner in which she won last start and what she has shown us at home has been pleasing, we have always had a decent opinion of her. “It is a tough ask from a sticky gate (12), but her work has been really good and she is probably a filly that is still on the up and she has got plenty of upside to come, whether it is going to be just yet or she needs a bit more time, we will find out on Saturday.” On the Trentham undercard, Cole looks to have three strong contenders in Renovations, Miss Jones and Bradley. Previously racing in Australia, the Trelawney Stud-raced Miss Jones won her New Zealand debut for Cole at Ellerslie last start and he believes she can double her tally if she brings her manners this weekend. “She has come from Australia and she is a mare that has got ability, she just wants to do a bit wrong,” he said. “I think down the chute at Trentham will suit her and with Opie on, there are a couple of positives there. “She has just got to put it all together and after her last run we have learned a bit about her and popped the shadow roll on her and fingers-crossed she settles enough early and she can round it out like she did at Ellerslie.” Group Three performer Renovations disappointed when seventh over 1400m at Te Rapa last month and Cole believes the recent wet weather will assist his mare on Saturday. “She was a bit disappointing last start. I just think the track got a bit too firm towards the end of the day,” Cole said. “She probably appreciates her toe in the ground a bit more and it shouldn’t be too firm at Trentham with the rain around throughout the week.” Cole’s team will be rounded out by Bradley, who is rated a $3.90 favourite to take out the Blue Star Group 1600. “It has taken me a little while to figure him out,” Cole said. “He won really well fresh-up and he was a bit disappointing second-up at Counties, but I am putting that down to trainer error, I just backed him up a bit soon, which is just not his style. “We put him in the paddock for 10 days leading into Trentham last start and it was a different performance to what we had the start before, and we have done the same thing again this time. Opie (Bosson, jockey) has obviously had a sit on him and he knows what he is capable of.” Cole has had a good association with Trentham over the last few years and he is hoping to continue that this weekend. “It has been really good to me over the years, I couldn’t say why,” he said. “Last season we had a lot of luck there and fingers-crossed we can keep it rolling. We have had a bit of luck so far this season and a good day tomorrow would be great.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are hoping Towering Vision’s win in the Eagle Technology 1600 at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day is a good omen as they look towards the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March with the progressive three-year-old. The last two winners of the New Year’s Day three-year-old mile, Orchestral (2024) and Willydoit (2025), have gone on to win the Derby, and Walker and Bergerson are hoping Towering Vision can continue that trend. The stakes winner was fresh-up on Thursday, and punters supported him late, backing him into $3.30 favouritism before the jump. In-form hoop Opie Bosson settled his charge towards the rear of the field where he bided his time before presenting him out wide at the top of the straight and Towering Vision was able to show his class when running over the top of his rivals to score by three-quarters of a length over Sweet Ice. “It was a really good patient ride by Opie,” Bergerson said. “It was good to see him relax so well in the blinkers, he still settled well and tracked into the race nicely. “We have been working back from the Derby the whole way through and we are back on track now. “He will take really good confidence from that. He has only won once before and that was a pretty good field today. The way he hit the line gives us confidence to go up in trip now. We are certainly targeting the middle of March and potentially onto the Waikato Guineas (Gr.2, 2000m) now.” The win continued a great start to the year for Te Akau, having won two races earlier in the meeting, including Kinnaird in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Drops of God in the TAB 1200. Both runners are set to return to Ellerslie for Karaka Millions night later this month where Kinnaird will contest the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), while Drops of God will likely line-up in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1400m). Drops Of God was an eye-catching debut winner, scoring by 5-1/2 lengths at Te Aroha last month, and backed that up with a convincing three-quarter of a length victory on Thursday in the hands of Bosson. The senior hoop said Drops Of God is still racing greenly, but he was impressed by her talent and expects her to go on with the job. “She has still got quite a bit to learn, she does a bit wrong and gets on the wrong leg, but she has a lot of ability,” he said. “She is definitely well above average. Once she puts everything together, I think she is going to be a very smart sprinter.” Bergerson was pleased with what he saw from the Nearco Stud-bred and part-owned three-year-old, who he said would likely return to Ellerslie on January 24 to contest the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy (1400m). “A three-year-old filly against the older horses up in grade, it was a really good effort,” he said. “It was a positive ride and she had to do a bit of work to hold her spot and gave a really good kick trough to the line. It sets her up hopefully for some nice targets coming up. “It is hard to know what her trip is at this stage. She is bred to get a little bit further, but the Almanzor Trophy looks like a really nice race for her on Karaka Millions night, all going well. “There is a lot to get excited about.” Bergerson is hoping the stable can continue their great start to the year at Trentham on Saturday, where they will be represented by a trio of runners. Undefeated juvenile Out Of The Blue will lead their charge in the Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes (1100m), for which he is an equal $3.10 favourite alongside Silhouette. “He was meant to run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day but unfortunately he drew barrier 10 with 58kg, so we elected to scratch and go to Trentham,” Bergerson said. “He has had two looks down a chute at Riccarton, not the Trentham chute, but they are similar. He has got a nice gate (2) and has Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) aboard. I would imagine he would be in the first one or two. “He is quite bold in his going and he likes to get out in front and truck along at his own speed. We won’t be trying to ride him back like we did at the Avondale trials where he was quite bold. “He is going really well and that trial has brought him on nicely. It is hard to line-up all of the different form lines, but he goes in in really good order.” The stable will also have a two-pronged attack in the Gr.2 Levin Track Supporters Levin Classic (1400m) courtesy of Sibling Rivalry and La Dorada. Sibling Rivalry has been victorious in her last starts and Bergerson is looking forward to testing her at stakes level for the first time. “We think she deserves her chance at black-type,” he said. “1400m is a little bit of a query. She is not overly big but she makes up for it in toughness, she tries really hard. “I can’t fault her from her last start win at Pukekohe, which was really good against the older horses in 65 grade.” Bergerson is hoping last season’s Champion New Zealand Two-Year-Old La Dorada can return to form after failing to fire in her three three-year-old starts to date, including a fourth placed resuming run in New Zealand at Te Rapa last month. “La Dorada should strip a lot fitter for that first-up run,” Bergerson said. “We weren’t able to get a trial into her heading into it (first-up New Zealand run), but she had the two exhibition gallops. “She had a really good blow on pulling up and will take really good improvement. She is a Group One winner at 1400m at Wellington, which I think is a big plus, and ha drawn barrier one with Gryllsy on. Hopefully she can bounce back to a bit of form.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have taken a patient approach with their exciting sprinter Sweynesday, and they could be rewarded with a Group One result in a couple of weeks. The five-year-old son of Sweyneese extended his impressive form line when reeling in Shoes to win the SkyCity 1200 at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, setting up a return to the Auckland track on January 24 to contest the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m). From his wide gate, Sweynesday was forced to travel three-wide without cover for much of the journey, but he got on the back of an improving Silent Is Gold when rounding the final bend. Shoes, who had set a solid tempo throughout, kicked clear down the home straight, but Sweynesday took chase and under the urgings of jockey Masa Hashizume he was able to reel her in and nab her on the line to win by a head. “He sat three-wide throughout, he did it tough, but he is a good horse,” Wellwood said. “That’s eight starts now and he hasn’t finished outside the first two. “The second horse is a talented galloper and had a three-kilo claim as well. He did a good job to pick her up. I am very happy.” With a record of five wins and three runner-up results from eight career starts, Sweynesday’s trainers believe he is up to the task of taking the step up to stakes grade, and they have circled the Railway on Karaka Millions night as his target. “Today was a test to see where we were at and with that (performance) it means that he gets a chance there,” Wellwood said. “I would just love to see him draw a gate, he didn’t have it easy today. He gets in nicely at set weights and penalties in the Railway hence why we didn’t go down to the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) at weight-for-age. “It was nice to see him do that and it would be pretty special if we could do the same on Karaka Millions night.” Sweynesday was purchased out of Pertbab Racing’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft by Eric Koh, King Power and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $80,000, and he races in the colours of Koh’s Falcon Racing for whom he has earned $192,000 to date. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Fresh from booting home a winner apiece at Sha Tin on Thursday, Richard Kingscote and James Orman’s start to the new year got even better when their licences were extended until the end of the Hong Kong season. The Jockey Club on Friday confirmed the extensions from February 18 to the season finale on July 12, with both riders elated by the announcement. It can be tough going in one of the world’s most competitive riding ranks and that has been the case for Kingscote, who battled a winless...View the full article
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