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Strong possibility, but isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?

Why?

Did she. How is that any more relevant than I bet on her?

David Hayes is chasing a last-minute Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) berth with China Win at Happy Valley on Wednesday night when he looks to triumph for the third consecutive time in the Class Three Lyttelton Handicap (1,800m). China Win was withdrawn on the eve of his last start due to an irregular heart rhythm, which threw Derby plans into doubt for the 67-rated galloper. The son of Super Seth has been working well since the scratching and has trialled eight days out from the upcoming run where he...View the full article

After coming within inches of the upset of the season in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), rising star Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) is set to head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly put in a massive effort to go down by a short head to hot favourite Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the marquee race on Champions Day. Now plans are being put in place for her to travel to Sydney and take on the likes of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), who carries the same green and white Yulong colours as Well Written and has already been transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller. The step up to a middle-distance at the end of the month looks made to order for the Savabeel filly, who won both her lead-up starts over 1200 and 1400m and on Saturday made up lengths on Well Written after still being in the rear on the home turn. “She was so close to what would have been a dream result, but we’re still thrilled with her, so proud of our wonderful filly,” co-owner/breeder David Archer said. “I had a good talk with Mark (Walker) yesterday and he was pleased to tell me she pulled up as if she hadn’t had a race. “That being the case, and subject to everything going to plan in the meantime, she will be flown to Sydney and run in the Vinery, which looks ideal as a fillies’ Group One over 2000 metres. “That will be it for this season, she won’t be going to the (ATC) Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m), and the most likely plan then will be to head down to the Mornington Peninsula for a spell with a view to a spring campaign in Victoria. “As much as we would like to start her in the first Group Ones of the spring back here, the risk of wet tracks at that stage of the season in New Zealand makes Melbourne a more attractive target.” In confirming those plans, Walker reiterated that provided Belle Cheval continues to please, she will be given the chance to add further Group One form to go with her third placing in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “While it would have been fantastic to win on Saturday, you could hardly be disappointed with her, it was a very good effort,” Walker said. “The way she races she should manage the step up in distance in the Vinery, so she’s gone to the water-treadmill this week and then we’ll build towards Sydney.” With plans already in place for star two-year-old Lara Antipova to be transferred to Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable with a view to one further start either in Melbourne or Sydney, Walker reports that his pair of proven maresQuintessa (NZ)(Shamus Award) andDamask Rose (NZ)(Savabeel) have further confirmed targets. “The way it panned out we were happy with Quintessa’s third from well back over 1400m on Saturday and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham at the end of the month is an obvious next start. “Damask Rose just missed getting up over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday and she’ll run next in the Sunline Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week.” View the full article

Group Two Waikato Guineas winner Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) is set to join the training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr as she prepares for a possible start in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11. The Ocean Park filly has been one of the leading performers of the New Zealand classic season, finishing runner-up in both the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) behind Ohope Wins and last Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), where she chased home stablemate Road To Paris. Autumn Glory, who was purchased by Yulong Investments prior to her Waikato Guineas triumph, will transfer from the stable of Roger James and Robert Wellwood and is expected to head straight to the Price-Kent satellite stable at Rosehill. View the full article

Fast Network (NZ)(Wrote) reaffirmed his standing among Hong Kong’s top sprinters with a determined victory in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Essex Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, providing trainer Dennis Yip with a timely reward for the gelding’s consistent campaign. The five-year-old had already shown his quality earlier in the season when finishing third behind champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in both the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m). With the superstar absent this time, Fast Network capitalised to secure a well-deserved success. Carrying top weight of 61kg, Fast Network settled comfortably along the rail before finding a clear passage in the straight and quickening to defeat Sky Trust (So You Think) and Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible). He stopped the clock in 1:08.28, highlighting both his speed and resilience against a field that included several emerging sprinters. The victory rewarded a season of high-level performances for the Dennis Yip-trained runner, who has repeatedly competed with the best short-course horses in Hong Kong. “Everybody knows that Ka Ying Rising is too strong everywhere in the world but my horse is really consistent,” Yip said. “I think this race my horse was only about 80 percent, with the idea to have him ready for Dubai.” In normal times, the win would have been a timely launchpad for Dubai, but the situation off the track has become far more serious than any ordinary travel question.  Hong Kong Jockey Club officials are weighing whether it is viable for Fast Network to head to the UAE for the Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) on March 28 after missile and drone attacks, airport disruption and airspace uncertainty threw travel plans across the region into chaos. The issue is far from theoretical for Hong Kong racing connections. Following last weekend’s Super Saturday meeting in Dubai, jockey Karis Teetan, trainer Chris So, several family members, the owners of the sprinter Sing Dragon (Written Tycoon) and support staff were temporarily stranded before finally returning home last week. Fast Network would need to leave Hong Kong on March 16 to take his place in the Dubai race programme, but Yip indicated the final decision will rest with the Jockey Club, with safety considerations taking priority. “If I can’t go to Dubai we will stay here and contest the Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) here on April 6, so I guess we will race Ka Ying Rising again,” Yip said.  “There have been many flights cancelled, then there is insurance. If there is war, maybe we can’t get insurance.” Bred by Highview Stud’s Kurtis Gillovic, Fast Network was purchased by Wexford Stables for $30,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 2 Yearling Sales. Originally named Donnie Malone, Fast Network won a trial at Te Rapa for Wexford trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before his sale to Hong Kong. Fast Network is one of eight individual winners from 11 runners in Hong Kong by Highview Stud stallion Wrote, a Group One winning son of High Chaparral. View the full article

Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) crowned a momentous week for Windsor Park Stud when he provided the farm’s resident sire Circus Maximus with his first elite level success on Champions’ Day at Ellerslie. The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained representative triumphed in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in the hands of Geroge Rooke for Queensland breeder-owners Ron and Judi Wanless. His victory came hard on the heels of Windsor Park, with Mapperley Stud and Lion Rock Racing, signing Savabeel’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Savaglee (NZ) to the stud’s stallion roster. There was also a further celebration at Ellerslie for the farm when Road To Paris’ stablemate Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse), bred by Windsor Park Marketing Manager Mike Moran and wife Helen, won the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m). The lightly raced Road To Paris was making his seventh appearance, with his Derby success coming off a runner-up finish in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). “It was a wonderful day for us and pretty special to get a Blue Riband winner sired from the first crop of one of our stallions,” Windsor Park General Manager Steve Till said. “Back in the spring when Robert Wellwood was here at the farm, he said they had a horse they were setting on a Derby path and Roger’s now won it seven times and Robert has got his second in partnership. “This is by design and a massive compliment to them and their abilities as trainers.” A son of Galileo, Circus Maximus has delivered on lofty expectations following a glittering racing career that netted three Group One victories. “It’s pretty rare to have a New Zealand-based stallion win a New Zealand Derby from their first crop,” Till said. “We were lucky enough to have Thorn Park win it with Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park). Group One races are hard enough to win, let alone a Derby. “We also had High Chaparral, who trifectaed an AJC Derby (Shoot Out, Descarado, Monaco Consul) from his first crop and to now to get one in your back yard is tremendous.” Road To Paris is Circus Maximus’ third individual Southern Hemisphere stakes winner, joining Towering Vision (NZ) (Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Stakes, 1400m) and Circus Dancer (NZ) (Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes, 1340m). “There’s any amount of top stables who are complimentary about the horses they have by Circus Maximus in their stables,” Till said. Among them domestically are Te Akau, Andrew Forsman and Stephen Marsh while Mick Price and Ciaron Maher are also Australian-based members of the fan club. “Circus Maximus is beautifully bred, being by one of the greatest sire stallions, if not the greatest of the modern era and out of a champion mare (Duntle),” Till said. “He’s a magnificent individual and it was interesting in the TV coverage to hear Jayne Ivil spruiking Road To Paris from the paddock and he certainly gets that from his Dad. “He has been so well supported in his first three seasons, averaging over 100 mares, so there’s very exciting times to come.” Adding to that, is Savaglee who will join Circus Maximus, Auguste Rodin, Paddington, Profondo, Shamexpress, Vanbrugh and Turn Me Loose at Windsor Park, while Armory stands in association at Mapperley. “It was wonderful to secure Savaglee, he was obviously a very good looking yearling because (The Oaks Stud owner) Dick Karreman and Rick Williams (General Manager) paid a lot of money ($400,000) for him,” Till said. “When we inspected him, it was easy to see why. He’s got race performance, type and pedigree and that’s very hard to get. “The Oaks were very easy to deal with and we managed to nail it down, so we’ve got another beautiful horse to offer breeders later this season.” View the full article

Most trainers dream of competing in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Palmerston North horsewoman Lisa Latta may have found her horse to get her to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November. Talented stayer Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) once again proved her staying qualities at Ellerslie on Saturday when finishing runner-up behind Australian raider Paradise Storm (Masked Marvel) in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m). It comes just over a month after her victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham, and Latta was delighted to see the daughter of Almanzor vindicate her connections’ decision to pay the late nomination fee for the Auckland Cup.    “I am really rapt with her,” Latta said. “Winning the Wellington Cup and then to carry on with it. She was the first New Zealand horse home, which is always good. We are really proud of what she has done.” The spelling paddock is now beckoning the five-year-old mare and Latta said she will sit down and devise a plan with Go Racing, who race the mare, about getting Manzor Blue to Melbourne in the spring. “She will go to the paddock now for six to eight weeks and then we may well look at something in Australia in the spring,” Latta said. “We will give her the chance (to get to the Melbourne Cup), but she has gone out for a well-deserved break now.” Latta also picked up another pleasing result on Champions Day with stablemate Platinum Attack (Santos), who placed in the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m), and the five-year-old gelding will now be set for a stakes race closer to home. “I was happy enough with the run,” Latta said. “The lack of speed in the race probably didn’t help him, they didn’t run a really fast time. He is better when the pace is on. “He will probably back up in the Lightning (Listed, 1200m) at Trentham in two weeks.” View the full article