Chief Stipe

It’s all systems go for star racemare Melody Belle towards next Saturday’s Gr. 1 Bonecrusher Stakes. A week after taking her fourth Group One scalp for the season in the Haunui Farm WFA Classic at Otaki, Melody Belle has passed a crucial morning trackwork test to the satisfaction of trainer Jamie Richards. “We didn’t ask a whole lot of her – she ran home at the end of striding work in 40 (for the final 600m) – but I’m happy with her,” Richards told www.theinformant.co.nz. “She’s been eating well through the week, everything about her at this stage is good, so as long as she ticks all the usual boxes I see no reason why she won’t be there.” The 2000-metre Bonecrusher Stakes, one of three Group One races on next Saturday’s Ellerslie cared, will be Melody Belle’s first start beyond 1600 metres. View the full article

The Informant has you covered on New Zealand Derby day at Ellerslie. Our galloping men, Dennis Ryan and Richard Edmunds, are on track and ready to get all of the inside word on today’s massive card of racing. SCENE SET: View the full article

RACE 7 FOREVER PEARL (5) sat parked and bolted in on Thursday and goes up $7.00 FF, that’s bold overs for a mare that can back up and win again. Would be happy to take that price. Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

RACE 1 ONE YANKEE SON (11) looks backable at $5.00 FF and I’d stick with the ship. He’s run well the first day and can win another here. RACE 2 ART COURAGE (10) I think is better than the stablemate GO GETTA (3). Should that translate to the track then $5.00 FF versus $1.65 FF […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Two of the game’s quiet achievers recorded their first Group 1 winners when Best Western took out the $125,000 Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The bonny filly trailed throughout and capitalised on a passing lane run to win the time-honoured feature in New Zealand Record time at bolter’s odds of $38. It gave her Pukekohe trainer, Jeremy Young, and driver, Sailesh Abernethy, memorable first wins at the highest level. For Young, who was once Auckland Reactor’s strapper and caretaker in America, it made all the hard work he’s putting in since he started training in 2013 worth it. “It’s a massive career highlight – it still hasn’t sunk in,” he said post-race. “It’s been a bit of hard work to get horses like that but, finally, I’ve got one.” The filly is owned by Andrew Grierson, head of Woodlands Stud, and Young only got her to train after building up the courage to ask Grierson out of the blue if he would place one in his stable. Grierson ended up giving him two, and their relationship has blossomed from there. “When he said that I could have one, then said I had another one, it was a big help. “Not only is it getting me horses it’s helping keep me going. “Without guys like Andrew, and even Ivan Bridge pushing me, I may not be here.” With the two hot favourites, Wainui Creek and Belle Of Montana, leading and in the one-one respectively, it looked like they might fight out the finish. But Young had other ideas. “I was definitely thinking we could win it before the race because she’s probably not a short distance horse but she likes the longer trip. “American Empress was a bit the same. She’s probably lacking the high speed of Barry’s horse (Belle Of Montana) but over a longer distance she can just keep maintaining it and just keeps going. “I gave it a massive yell half way down the straight I was so excited.” Plans for the horse aren’t set in stone yet, but the trainer knows what the immediate future holds for him. “It’s all about looking after the horse first. “I haven’t even thought about what to do or where to go with her. “I’ll have a couple of quiet beers tomorrow and celebrate and work out where we are going after that.” Young also paid tribute to Abernethy, the pair having formed a strong combination for a number of seasons now. “He’s a hidden talent, I think. “A light weight and they do run for him. “He’s been around the game long enough now to work things out on the track and know what he has to do. “I owe a lot of this to him, as well.” Sailesh Abernethy and Jeremy Young discuss their first Group 1 winner, Best Western. Photo: Trish Dunell Abernethy has always been rather media-shy but made an exception after tonight’s big win. He acknowledged the support he’s had from Young for a number of seasons. “It was good to repay the faith that Zinny (Young) has shown in me. He’s always good to drive for. Abernethy didn’t quite have Young’s confidence pre-race, but said the strong tempo and Best Western’s sheer gutsiness came out on top. “It was great when Wainui Creek held the front; I always knew we’d be a chance when that happened. “She’s a good little stayer and really dug in tonight. “When Zac’s horse (Belle Of Montana) got out, I thought she might have had too much speed for us, but the New Zealand record worked in our favour. “I probably thought she could run in three if we trailed, so to win was a real bonus.” Belle Of Montana was a close second while Wainui Creek was another short margin away in third. Earlier in the night, Jack’s Legend continued his rich vein of form with a strong all-the-way win in the $30,000 The Founders Pace, holding off stablemate Mach Shard. Bonnie Highlander landed some betting plunges when comfortably winning the $30,000 Northern Breeders Stakes for trotting fillies and mares. Mossdale Rose, in foal and nearing retirement, won the $20,000 Charles Roberts NISBA Stakes while the All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen won both juvenile races with hot favourites, Sweet On Me and Smooth Deal. View the full article

The ladies had a night out at Forbury Park last Thursday, training and driving the trifecta in the junior drivers’ race. It was just the third time in New Zealand harness racing’s history that it’s happened, and the first in the South Island. It previously happened twice at Alexandra Park in 2002 and 2007. Winton horsewoman Chelsea Faithful trained the winner, Tartan Trilogy, and trained and drove the third horse, Toby O’Gara. Her good friend, Maruia Parker, drove the winner, while Kim Butt drove the runner-up, Kotare Elite, for trainer Amber Hoffman. Faithful was understandably happy that the only two horses she has in her work could produce results like that, and to benefit the Teal Pants campaign, which earns $400 for every female-driven winner to ovarian cancer research. “It’s a great cause for the girls and a real thrill to be part of that achievement with running first, send and third.” By rights, Tartan Trilogy should probably be retired and, with almost any other trainer, probably would have been a long way from a race track by now. But Faithful has a soft spot for him and can’t see him going too far from her stable any time soon. “He’s very much a pet. “He broke down two years ago – did a suspensory – and he just sort of lived at my stables after that. “I took him to the odd AMP show, rode him around the station that Maruia Parker lives on and a few other treks. “Slowly but surely I got him back in to it and eventually he was ready to go back to the trials.” So, it’s been very much a labour of love for Faithful and a very gratifying win. “I didn’t think I’d ever get him back running to be fair. “So, to be competing and then winning, that’s a real bonus.” She pulled the wrong rein as a driver, but was equally stoked her good friend Parker got the win. “Tartan Trilogy was actually Maruia’s first race day drive a few years ago. “It’s funny how these things work out. “I didn’t mind being beaten by her and Kim – they both mean so much to me.” Faithful works at Nathan Williamson’s just out of Invercargill, but usually trains her two in Winton first. “I think my alarm goes off at 5am. When they’re going well it’s not so hard, but it gets tougher in Winter.” “I left Hamish Hunter’s roughly a year ago and am now full time with Nathan. “I’m pretty lucky that my Mum will get up and help me with my two, otherwise they wouldn’t get done until the afternoon.” Faithful also has stock by A Rocknroll Dance and Mach Three to come back in to work. And the story wouldn’t be complete without a quick mention of Williamson’s stable star, Dark Horse, who has been out injured for over a year. “She’s due to come back in to work shortly. “She looks super; hopefully she stays sound.” View the full article

Macca Lodge trainer Brent McIntyre starts promising pacer Huntaway at Ascot Park on Sunday. Photo: Supplied. Impressive debutante winner Huntaway has thrived ahead of Sunday’s graduation final at Ascot Park. The Brent McIntyre trained five-year-old will attempt to make it two wins from two starts against a classy line up of progressive pacers. Huntaway created a big impression when producing a swooping finish to win his first start at Winton, last month. McIntyre said his pacer had thrived since that run. “He came through it very well, leading in to this race he has worked very well.” “He feels a million dollars, but whether than translates in to the race, I am not sure.” McIntyre said Huntaway was a raw product with plenty to learn about racing. “We have never really asked him to run – we have never screwed him down.” “He would really get on the job when we used to work him, but he is starting to relax now.” Huntaway won from barrier 15 at Winton and will again start from a wide draw when lining up from the outside of the front line. The pacer relished the fast pace of his last start and McIntyre hopes there will be a decent tempo again on Sunday. “Absolutely, that is exactly what we want.” “He has got a high cruising and he likes a hot pace.” Huntaway is not the only horse to come in to Sunday’s race after winning impressively on debut. Burlington also created a big impression when he won his first start at Gore, last month. The Brent White trained pacer bolted in by four lengths on the Gore grass track. Dixie Star scored by an even bigger margin when winning her first start at Winton, last month. The Stephen Boyd trained filly won by an impressive five and a half lengths when winning a one mile (1609m) event. Dixie Star and Burlington both look to have draw advantages over Huntaway. Dixie Star will start from two spots inside him, in barrier 6. Burlington has drawn in barrier 2 on the second row, behind roughie, Surazal. Dixie Star will be driven by visiting northern reinsman, David Butcher. Butcher is in the south to drive Boyd’s team as her previous reinsman, Craig Thornley, will drive at Sunday’s Addington meeting. Butcher drives Dametoro in race 2 and Back In Black in race 8 for the Boyd stable. He also drives Tad Lincoln in race 3 for trainer Adrian Wohlers and Razcal Alley in race 10 for trainer Doug McLachlan. View the full article

Fresh from Booker’s Oakleigh Plate triumph, co-trainers Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra are set to unleash the stable’s other Group One winner Aristia, who begins her autumn campaign in the Frances Tressady Stakes at Flemington. Aristia made her mark during a busy seven-start spring preparation highlighted by wins in the Gr. 2 Wakeful Stakes and Gr. 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington. The three-year-old resumes for her first start since the Oaks in tomorrow’s 1400-metre Group Three race for fillies and mares, a week after stablemate Booker stormed to a first-up victory in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield. “She looks great,” Zahra said. “Her work has been good and her jumpouts have been good. Up to date we can’t really fault her. “You are always nervous when you’ve got a horse who has had a tough spring coming back again, but to us she is showing us no signs of that.” The Gr. 1 Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks in Sydney are among Aristia’s targets this autumn. “They don’t lose a lot of residual fitness from the spring, so she’s going to be quite forward in that sense,” Zahra said. “Obviously Sydney is on the cards for us with her and I think she’s a better filly with a bit of cut in the ground as well, so if it happens to rain up there then there’s no problem. “It’s more a bit of a kick-off point but her jumpouts and work suggest she will run well. Whether the 1400-metres is a bit sharp for her, time will tell.” Stablemate Sheezdashing resumes in the same race and she was a fast-finishing third in the Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington first-up last spring. A dual Oaks placegetter last season, Sheezdashing also has Sydney targets with Zahra saying she appreciates rain-affected ground. Saturday’s meeting has been brought forward with 36 degrees forecast and the firmness of the track by the final race is Zahra’s only question mark with Sheezdashing. “She’s come back in good order,” he said. “She trialled well last week. She loves Flemington and she always puts in so I think she will run a good race, but there’s a lot to come for her.” View the full article

While the Australian Oaks remains the main goal for Nakeeta Jane this autumn, the path she takes to get there will be determined by her performance in the Gr. 1 Surround Stakes. Trainer Mark Newnham is keeping the door ajar on several options, including taking on the older mares in next month’s Coolmore Classic, or the three-year-old colts and geldings in the Randwick Guineas. “Saturday will decide what the third run is,” Newnham said. “It will either be the Phar Lap Stakes or the Coolmore, and a rough possibility is the Randwick Guineas which would mean backing her up the following week.” Nakeeta Jane is on the second line of betting for the Surround Stakes after resuming with a brilliant performance to win the Light Fingers Stakes earlier this month. The victory cemented her status as a rising star of the three-year-old fillies’ ranks after she put the writing on the wall in the spring when she was Group One-placed in the Flight Stakes at just her third start. Newnham described Nakeeta Jane’s preparation leading into tomorrow’s race as “faultless” and said the mare was topped off by a gallop on the course proper at Warwick Farm on Monday, when she worked with stablemate and fellow Surround Stakes runner Greysful Glamour. Runner-up in the VRC Oaks, Greysful Glamour finished midfield in the Light Fingers after a wide run. She is also being aimed towards the Australian Oaks and Newnham expects her to improve as she steps up in distance, although he won’t be surprised to see her run well tomorrow if she can take up a forward position. “Her best runs have actually been when she gets up on the pace, whether she’s quick enough to do that over 1400 I’m not sure,” he said. “She raced well the other day because she probably had the toughest run in the race and only got beaten two and a half lengths.” Nakeeta Jane is on the second line of betting at $5.50 behind equal $5 favourites Fiesta and Pohutukawa in a race where only three of the 15 horses are longer than $21. Newnham isn’t surprised by the depth in the Surround and says as a group, the current generation of three-year-old fillies have been above average from the start. “If you look back at their two-year-old year, the fillies dominated in the Slipper, the Sires’ and the Champagne so they’ve always been a good bunch of fillies,” he said. “It’s no surprise they’ve trained on, and we’ve got a few new ones in the mix including mine.” View the full article

She’s So Cool’s win at Addington on Friday night for driver Paul Court meant a lot to trainer Simon McMullan. Photo: Race Images. She’s So Cool produced a memorable win for trainer Simon McMullan at Addington on Friday night. The three-year-old broke her maiden at start two with Paul Court in the sulky. McMullen said the victory was a special one because She’s So Cool was the first horse he started training when he moved to Canterbury in 2017. The rookie trained moved south from Auckland to be near his late father, Barry, who was battling illness at the time. “She was the first horse I had after I moved home when my old man got crook.” “She was the first horse I had in my own name and she kicked it all off.” She’s So Cool showed she had a few things to learn about the racing game when galloping out of her debut at Ashburton last month. With Ricky May in Auckland and unable to drive the filly, McMullan was keen to book someone who knew the horse well to replace him. He turned to his employer, Paul Court, who continued the reigniting of his driving career this season with the filly. “She can be a little bit funny and you are better off with someone with knows her.” “Because I train at Paul’s place I can have him on her in track-work at home.” “Ricky would have driven her if he wasn’t up north, but I just thought it was better to have someone on her that knew her.” She’s So Cool can be excused for not having a flawless trotting gait as she is bred to pace. The Well Said filly, from Real Desire mare, She’s Cool, was tried as a pacer and had one workout as a two-year-old before she was tried as a trotter. “She has got the motor, but she just needs to learn about what it is all about at the start.” “But, being pacing-bred, it is obviously going to take a little bit of time.” “I think she will come to it.” There are a host of feature races coming up for three-year-old trotting fillies. McMullan said he was unlikely to race She’s So Cool in next week’s Southland Trotting Oaks or the upcoming New Zealand Trotting Oaks. However, he did not rule out testing his filly against her own age and sex in the future. “I will probably give her two or three weeks off now, she has done a great job this time in.” Cheerful showed she was on track for her tilt at the New Zealand Trotting Oaks when winning Friday night’s feature, the Sires Stakes Classique. She’s So Cool’s victory was McMullan’s fifth from just 30 starters in his first full season of training. “Paul and Graham Court have been amazing and without them I probably wouldn’t have got the start I have had.” Paul Court has a busy weekend with starters at Alexandra Park on Friday and at Ascot Park and Addington on Sunday. He also has Hail Christian starting in a minor event on Miracle Mile night at Menangle on Saturday. Rule technicalities meant the pacer was denied a start in one of the group 1 Bohemia Crystal Free-For-All after he was snubbed for Miracle Mile selection. Paul Court won his second race of the season as a driver with She’s So Cool at Addington on Friday Night. Photo: Race Images. View the full article

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Group One-winning sprinter Viddora will fly the flag for Australia in the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night in Dubai. Trainer Lloyd Kennewell said the mare was set to travel provided she continues to please, but he would have no qualms about abandoning the trip if the mare was not right. The winner of the Gr. 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley in September, Viddora resumed with a midfield finish in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield last Saturday. “I’ve been pretty keen for a while but it’s just been waiting for the right time,” Kennewell said. “I wanted to make sure she came through her first-up run and make sure she’s in good order because I’m putting the horse first and foremost. “Once all that came through it was a matter of telling the owners what I thought and they were all pretty keen and it was only in the last 24 hours that we made the decision. “She had her last inoculation yesterday (Thursday) and she seemed all right this morning, so we’ll keep rolling, but if she shows any signs she’s not right, she won’t be going.” With the Gr. 1 Al Quoz Sprint to be run on March 30 at Meydan, Kennewell said Viddora was tentatively scheduled to travel on March 18. He does not expect the travel to be a concern, saying the mare has flown to interstate carnivals several times. Kennewell said the Victoria Racing Club had allowed Viddora the opportunity to gallop at Flemington to familiarise herself with a straight track. Her only start at Flemington was in October 2016 when she finished sixth in a bunched finish. “She got a bit lost,” Kennewell said. “I think Dubai will suit her. It’s a bit more spacious and a bit less competitive riding.” Regular jockey Joe Bowditch will take the ride. Australian sprinters have won the Al Quoz twice with Buffering successful in 2016 and Ortensia in 2012. View the full article

Ellerslie Race Scratchings R1: R2: R3: R4: R5: 3 R6: R7: R8: R9: R10: 1 TAB Meeting #2 with the first of 10 races starting at 12:15pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 Trebles: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 8-9-10 Quaddies: 2-3-4-5, 7-8-9-10 Pick 6: Starts on race 5 with a $25,000 Guaranteed Pool Track conditions: Good 3 Weather: Fine Rail: True Track: Right hand […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Wingatui Race Scratchings R1: 4,13 R2: 7 R3: R4: R5: R6: 2 R7: R8: R9: R10: TAB Meeting #6 with the first of 10 races starting at 12:00pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 Trebles: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 8-9-10 Quaddies: 2-3-4-5, 7-8-9-10 Track conditions: Dead 4 Weather: Fine Rail: True Track: Left hand 2000m Length of straight: 350m Race 10: […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

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Wingatui Race Scratchings R1: 4,13 R2: 7 R3: R4: R5: R6: 2 R7: R8: R9: R10: TAB Meeting #6 with the first of 10 races starting at 12:00pm Doubles: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 Trebles: 1-2-3, 4-5-6, 8-9-10 Quaddies: 2-3-4-5, 7-8-9-10 Track conditions: Dead 4 Weather: Fine Rail: True Track: Left hand 2000m Length of straight: 350m Race 1: […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

One-time Derby favourite Cutadeel heads the Baker-Forsman stable’s three-pronged attack on tomorrow’s Ellerslie classic. Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have won two of the last four editions of the Vodafone New Zealand Derby, and the champion pair have three runners in tomorrow’s $1 million classic at Ellerslie. Baker and Forsman saddled Mongolian Khan to beat Volkstok’n’barrell in a thrilling two-horse war in 2015, then Vin De Dance triumphed in a head-bobbing finish with Mongolianconqueror 12 months ago. This year their hopes rest with Cutadeel, Bobby Dee and The Chosen One. Cutadeel was the $6 favourite for the Derby after winning three in a row, including the 3YO Salver at Listed level. But after a last-start failure in the Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas, he now sits at $16. “It was a terrible run in the Guineas, we still don’t have a reason for it,” Baker told www.theinformant.co.nz. “I don’t know if it was because we tried to martial some early speed and go forward in the early stages. “Whatever the reason was, it was just a bad run. He’s never run like that before. I certainly wouldn’t write him off in the Derby. “He’s been doing everything right since then. He’s a cruisy little horse and we’re very happy with him. The Dundeels are flying at the moment, they’re going incredibly well, and a lot of his good performers are doing it by coming from off the pace.” Bobby Dee was a gritty fourth in the Avondale Guineas and is rated a $35 chance. “He ran well in the Guineas and has trained on nicely,” Baker said. “He’s way out at $35 in the market, so people must think his Guineas run was a fluke. I wouldn’t be so sure of that. He’s by Zed, who’s a a son of Zabeel and Emerald Dream, so I’d be very confident that he’ll see out the trip.” The Chosen One, a stakes winner in the spring, has been fourth and seventh in the Waikato and Avondale Guineas and sits at $51. “We’re happy with how he’s doing heading into the race, and he’ll have his chance,” Baker said. Matt Cameron will ride Cutadeel, with Jonathan Riddell on Bobby Dee and Sam Spratt on The Chosen One. Baker and Forsman also have three runners in Saturday’s Gr. 3 McKee Family Sunline Vase – a race they won with Mime in 2016 and Eleonora in 2017. Clementina was a fast-finishing second to race rival elate in the Listed Oaks Prelude last start, while Oratia and Spring Delight are stepping up to stakes class after impressive maiden wins. Spring Delight (Matt Cameron) is rated a $6 chance, while Clementina (Jason Waddell) is at $7.50 and Oratia (Johnathan Parkes) is $26. “Clementina’s a good stayer,” Baker said. “Her full-brother Patrician (renamed Live And Free) was a good stayer we had for one start before he was sold. “We’re happy with Clementina and she’ll be running on strongly at the end of the race. “The other two won well in maiden races last start and have good staying pedigrees, so I’d expect them to be in with a good chance as well.” View the full article

Shortly after being given the all-clear to start in the Blamey Stakes, Best Of Days has had his campaign shut down by a bleeding attack. The Godolphin horse went to Sandown today for the second of two enforced jumpouts after staying in the barriers in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday. He had passed the first test yesterday and successfully completed the second before the bleed was discovered. Trainer James Cummings reported the incident to stewards and the Gr. 1 Cantala Stakes winner will now serve a mandatory three-month ban. Jockey Brad Rawiller will now have to wait until next week to make his comeback from a serious neck injury. View the full article

Kiwi filly Verry Elleegant has been scratched from tomorrow’s Gr. 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington. “Unfortunately, Verry Elleegant has been withdrawn from the Australian Guineas tomorrow due to a mildly elevated temperature which was recorded early this morning during routine checks,” trainer Chris Waller said in a statement. “Whilst it is only very minor, we can’t take any risks and therefore the decision was made to immediately scratch her and treat her accordingly. This was done to ensure she recovers and can continue on with a racing preparation. “We are hoping she will recover from this quickly and hope to have her back racing in two weeks’ time.” Initially trained by her part-owner Nick Bishara at Ardmore Lodge, Verry Elleegant made a big impression with smart victories in two of her three New Zealand starts. A majority ownership share was then sold and Verry Elleegant was transferred to Victoria, where her spring campaign featured a Gr. 3 Ethereal Stakes win and Gr. 2 Edward Manifold Stakes placing for the now-suspended trainer Darren Weir. In her first start for Waller, Verry Elleegant flashed home for second in the Gr. 3 Vanity at Flemington on February 16. View the full article

As always, Graeme Rogerson isn’t shying away from a challenge. Rogerson and his co-trainers Debbie and Bailey Rogerson will produce More Wonder in tomorrow’s Gr. 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby and Ferrando in the Gr. 3 Waikato Stud Plate at Ellerslie. Should they perform to expectations, Rogerson is planning big things for both horses. “We think More Wonder is a really good horse. We’re thinking about taking on Winx with him, but we’ll just play that by ear,” he said. “And Ferrando, if he runs really well, hopefully he’ll get an invitation to Hong Kong (for the Gr. 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize over 1200 metres on April 28).” Ferrando went within a whisker of claiming his first Group One win when run down late by Enzo’s Lad in the Telegraph at Trentham, run in a sizzling 1:06.95. “It was a sensational run and the watered track didn’t help, but it was still touch and go whether he might have actually won the race,” Rogerson said. “He’s drawn another bad alley this weekend but he’s a proven horse. With a dry track and if he gets the run to suit, he’ll be very competitive. He’s worked really well this week. Bailey is really happy with him and she told me they’ll know he’s there.” TAB bookmakers installed Ferrando a $6 third favourite for the set-weights and penalties sprint behind Spring Heat and Princess Kereru at $5. A winner of eight of his 23 starts, seven of those at 1200 metres, Ferrando will head to Trentham next start to defend his Listed Lightning Handicap crown on March 16 before heading overseas. “He won the Lightning last year and then went to Adelaide and it rained. He needs a rock-hard track,” Rogerson said. Rogerson has high hopes for More Wonder in the Derby, despite the Mossman gelding never racing past 1600m. A winner of three of his 16 starts, More Wonder ran a luckless fourth in the Gr. 1 Levin Classic at Trentham before meritorious runs for fifth in the Gr. 1 Thorndon Mile at Trentham and fourth in last week’s Gr. 1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic at Otaki against the older horses. “He’s shown he’s up to running against the very best horses. A few things have gone wrong, otherwise he should probably have been a Group One winner already,” Rogerson said. “I know it’s a Derby, but he’s a really good horse. Horses don’t work like he’s been working at home. He’s just got to put it all together. He struck a wet track last week and he’d done a few things wrong in the run, but with the right run this weekend, he’s in this Derby up to his eyeballs. “He’s working like a Derby winner and he’ll be very competitive if he does everything right. He doesn’t pull or anything at home but he’s such a strong horse. I think that much of him I paid $280,000 for his half brother at Karaka.” TAB bookmakers have More Wonder as a $13 fifth favourite for the Derby behind Surely Sacred at $3.40, Vernanme at $6, In A Twinkling at $7.50 and Platinum Invador at $10. More Wonder holds nominations in Australia for the Gr. 1 Rosehill Guineas on March 23, the Gr. 1 Australian Derby at Randwick on April 6 and the Gr. 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 13, a race slated as potentially the last for champion mare Winx. View the full article

Chris Waller is expecting a solid showing from his New Zealand-bred stayer Patrick Erin in the Gr. 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick tomorrow, where he faces champion stablemate Winx. The seven-year-old gelding finished fourth first-up against Winx in the Gr. 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick earlier this month and Waller was pleased with his run. “His first-up run was excellent and he has improved in terms of his fitness since then,” Waller said. “He showed first-up when over 1400 metres that he can hold a position through having some good barrier speed, so whilst I wouldn’t expect him to lead, he won’t be too far away.” The Group One-winning son of Gallant Guru is on a path towards the Gr. 1 Sydney Cup in April, which will include a number of black-type assignments. “He is tracking nicely towards a Sydney Cup and he will be going via the Gr. 3 Sky High Stakes third-up and fourth-up into the Gr. 1 BMW, and then the grand final for the preparation will be the Sydney Cup,” Waller said. He will also line-up Karaka graduate Unforgotten in the Chipping Norton and believes she will improve off her fifth-placed run in the Apollo. “She just got left a little flat footed through there being no pressure in the race first-up, so if that is the case on Saturday we would get rolling a little earlier on her to ensure that she is put into the race and she will certainly improve in terms of fitness,” Waller said. “I think Unforgotten should be starting to improve second-up and up to the mile and not just be a walkover, obviously we have got a lot of respect for Happy Clapper as well.” Meanwhile, earlier in the card Waller will line-up New Zealand-bred gallopers Melt and Zalatte in the Gr. 1 Surround Stakes. Melt finished sixth last start in the Gr. 2 Light Fingers Stakes and Waller believes she has taken a lot of improvement from that race. “She has taken improvement from her first-up run but she is another one that has drawn wide (barrier 14),” Waller said. “She wanted to do things upside down first-up, so hopefully we can just get her to switch off and get her to come back and relax. Providing that is the case she will finish off well.” Waller is excited about undefeated filly Zalatte’s potential heading into tomorrow. “I am very excited by this horse, she follows a similar profile to Unforgotten through winning off season three-year-old races and now she is racing against the better horses and is obviously first up,” Waller said. “I wouldn’t expect her to win against these sharper three-year-old fillies, but I would expect her to show that she is going to be competitive in races going forward over a bit further. “From her good draw (barrier four) she is going to at least get a nice run and hopefully runs close to the first three. She will then progress through to the Vinery Stakes third-up.” View the full article