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Surely he didn't

Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor) caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday. The five-year-old daughter of Almanzor had previously only raced up to rating 75 grade and was taking a massive jump up to Group company on Saturday, a step punters thought was too far and they let her drift out to an 86-1 outsider. From her outside draw she was taken straight to the back to settle at the rear of the field for jockey Kate Hercock where she had an economical trip for most of the marathon journey. Turning for home, the pair had a wall of horses in front of them, but Hercock was able to weave a passage through the pack and Manzor Blue stuck her nose out in front with 50m to go and held onto her advantage to win by a short neck over fellow Awapuni galloper Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino), with a further half-length back to stablemate Be Real (NZ) (Iffraaj)in third. Prior to the start, Hercock told trainer Lisa Latta that she would ride her mare for luck and that’s exactly what she did, and while she was left querying their chances around the final bend, lady luck was on their shoulder down the straight and the Hawke’s Bay hoop was rapt to get the result. “I said (to Latta) if she gets back we will ride her for luck,” Hercock said. “From about the half mile we were getting in more carnage, at the 600m we were in a lot more carnage and then I rolled back into the inside and she has got such a phenomenal turn of foot on her day.” Latta said Manzor Blue has had her share of issues this season and she was pleased to overcome them and build towards the Wellington Cup, with Hercock’s advice proving to be the difference of her pressing on towards the Trentham feature following her last start sixth placing at the Upper Hutt track. “We have had a lot of niggles with this mare this season, she had a lot of back problems. We have worked extra hard to get her right,” Latta said. “She only ran sixth here a fortnight ago and I said to Kate ‘should we press on to the Wellington Cup?’ she said ‘press on, I think she is back’. At that time it didn’t even look like she would make the field. Good on Kate, she deserved it, she pinched runs and she got there.” Manzor Blue carried New Zealand syndicator Go Racing’s silks to victory and Latta was pleased to get the result for her loyal clients. “Go Racing has been fantastically loyal to me,” Latta said. “They do a fantastic job syndicating their horses. The last time I had a big winner was Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) at Wellington (for Go Racing).” Now proven at stakes level, Latta believes her mare has a bright future among New Zealand’s staying ranks. “She is only a five-year-old mare, she has got it all in front of her,” she said. “We have ironed out a lot of niggles and learned a lot about her this year.” Bred by Milan Park principal Tony Rider, Manzor Blue is out of Zabeel mare Turquoise Coast (NZ), a half-sister to Group Three winner Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos). Manzor Blue was offered through Milan Park’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where was purchased by Go Racing for $130,000. She has now won three of her 21 starts and earned just shy of $280,000 in prizemoney. View the full article

Seven-year-old mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote) landed her second Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) three years after her first, with a strong front-running success under Dean Yendall at Caulfield on Saturday. The Matthew Williams trained daughter of Wrote has competed in the race in four consecutive years, with fourth and third placings in the mare’s feature between her 2023 and 2026 victories. Wrote To Arataki had a length to spare over fellow Kiwi bred mare Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), with Bossy Benita (So You Think) in third. Williams said the mare’s soundness was a key asset as she advanced her career record to seven wins and nine placings from 28 starts with A$903,980 in prizemoney. “She’s done a great job and she’s been so sound all the way through,” Williams said. “She had a couple of little viruses there in the spring and we just couldn’t get her back right, so we opted to pull up stumps. “The owners have been very patient and were happy to do that, and then we’ve just set her for this race which has been a great kick-off to her autumn in previous prepartions. She always runs a pretty cheeky race in the Bellmaine.” The Gr.3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in a fortnight is the likely next assignment, a race Wrote To Arataki won last year. “It’s a good mare’s program for her,” Williams said. “She’s not a good traveller, so we don’t look to go anywhere interstate, and mares are very well catered for here in Victoria. She loves these 1400m and 1600m races, so it just works well and they’re on your back door.” Dean Yendall, who’s daughter Mia celebrated her 12th birthday was pleased to land a Group Three on the day, having missed the mare’s last win in the race through injury. “I was down at the time with a bad fall but I am back now and I have ridden her the last couple of seasons,” Yendall said. “She has been good to me, the owners have been good to me and obviously so has Matthew. “She got the job done and the track is beautiful out there which played into her hands. There is a nice bit of give in it and it is not rock hard. “She goes well fresh and her last couple of trials show that she is back in town and going well.” Bred by Noelene Bishop, Wrote To Arataki is by Highview Stud’s proven sire Wrote, a Group One-winning son of High Chaparral. The dam of Wrote To Arataki is the multiple winning Align mare Galloping Gerte (NZ). Wrote To Arataki finished third in her only trial in New Zealand for former trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne before her private sale to the Williams stable through bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo. A yearling full brother to Wrote To Arataki was sold to John Foote Bloodstock out of the Leanach Lodge draft for $200,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales this week. View the full article

Taranaki visitor Special Sakura (NZ) (Staphanos) upset the applecart when she led from go to whoa to bring up just her third career victory, and first at black-type level, when winning the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Ellerslie. The four-year-old daughter of Novara Park stallion Staphanos had finished close up in second behind Romilly (NZ) (So You Think) in a rating 75 contest at the course when brought north by trainer Janelle Millar on New Year’s Day. Millar produced stable star Final Return (NZ) (Reliable Man) to run a gallant fourth in the open 2200m event just one race earlier and stablemate Special Sakura more than matched that effort as she showed plenty of grit to hold out a field headed by multiple Group One winner El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking), who started a warm $3.10 favourite. Punters were prepared to ignore Special Sakura’s chances, allowing her to reach $31 in the Fixed Odds market and she made them pay as rider Chris Dell produced a front running classic to land the major slice of the $100,000 prize pool on offer. Dell made no bones he was heading to the front at barrier rise and held out all challenges to lead clearly after 200m, despite being hotly challenged by Takeshi (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) throughout. Special Sakura shook free turning for home although she looked a sitting duck as El Vencedor ranged up on her outer while eventual runner-up What You Wish (NZ) (Embellish) For tracked him into contention. The challenge of the favourite quickly came to an end and it was left to What You Wish For and Moxie (NZ) (Strasbourg) to chase Special Sakura in vain as the mare kicked away again to win stylishly by nearly two lengths. Millar was thrilled with the performance, particularly as it opens many opportunities for the mare over the coming months. “We’ve always thought a lot of her and I also have her full-sister at home as when Luigi (Muollo, Novara Park principal) asked if I wanted her as well I couldn’t say yes quick enough,” Millar said. “Chris had said last time when she ran second that more ground would suit her, although halfway through the race I was worried she was going too hard. “As it turned out she had a super kick in the straight and ended up winning quite easily. “She is a tall, lanky thing that we have had some trouble with in keeping the weight on her, but lately she has been eating really well and looks a very happy horse. “I haven’t looked at what is coming up but this will give her plenty of opportunity to start in some nice races and a mile at her next start might be just perfect for her.” Dell was also delighted with just how well the mare fought when tackled in the straight. “She just relished the extra distance today,” he said. “She flew the coop at the start and with 53kgs on your back it made it an easy decision to lead. “She just cruised along and opened up in the straight where she just kicked so well. That was a nice field today and she won it pretty easily in the end. “This is also such a good reward for Janelle who has really backed me throughout my career. She is like a second Mum and I can’t thank her enough for the support she has given me.” Bred and raced by Luigi Muollo under his Explosive Breeding Ltd banner, Special Sakura is out of three-race winner Mia Mamma (NZ) who includes multiple Group One winner Explosive Jack (NZ) ( Jakkalberry) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in her extended family. View the full article

3 2 now, great race and  great timing, right between 2nd and 3rd set in the Tennis 🎾 

you misjudge me gammalite. Nothing you say i ever take personally or get frustrated over. I think i may frustrate you with some of the opinions i express and personally think that occasionally shows in your replies. But i  never think you have any intent to make it personal or offend me.Thats not you sunshine.   i totally disagree with that. i think the opposite. And of course i would say that because i agree with the points he continues to make about the financial aspects of governance of the sport.

I see Republican Party was horse of the year.  https://harnesslink.com/new-zealand/republican-party-named-nz-horse-of-the-year/

Pedigree & miles in the legs , usually a pointer to success.  No I didn't back it !  But Sweeney tipped it.

Pierre Ng Pang-chi is confident Sagacious Life has improved again since his last-start victory as the Brazilian import bids to deliver Zac Purton an elusive win in Sunday’s Classic Mile at Sha Tin. Sagacious Life has burst into four-year-old series contention with two wins from three local starts, scoring brilliantly on his Hong Kong debut in October before a tough Class Two success on his latest appearance. Beaten but far from disgraced when sixth with excuses in between the two triumphs, the...View the full article