Lotto winner chases Group One spoils

[Chief Stipe]

Aalaalune, a multiple stakes placegetter including in this month’s Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes, will appreciate the extra distance of Saturday’s Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Lotto winner Lou Te Keeti could be poised to strike it lucky again this weekend with a first Group One prize on the racing stage.

A Tauranga local, Te Keeti scooped $10.3 million in the Powerball jackpot in July 2017 and has invested part of his winnings in thoroughbreds. Young Matamata trainer Jacob McKay has been entrusted with three of his horses, and all are competing at Saturday’s Awapuni meeting.

Chasing the ultimate result will be Aalaalune in the Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, while Mr Universe and Vittachi will contest a three-year-old 1200-metre race and a 2200-metre Rating 72 respectively.

McKay will also have a fourth runner at the meeting, Mighty Connor in the Gr. 3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic, with Lisa Allpress booked for the mount.

Aalaalune was beaten by a short head by Yourdeel in the Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie last start and on that performance, as well as her big finishes for sixth in the Karaka Million and third in the Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, she should appreciate the step up to 1400 metres on Saturday.

‘’She has been racing so well and deserves to win a good one,’’ McKay said.  ‘’She went so close in the Sistema. She tried so hard and the 1400 metres will be much better for her at Awapuni. Reese Jones will ride her again.’’

Aalaalune was given a brief let-up after the Sistema Stakes and McKay is pleased with her condition going into Saturday’s Group One assignment.

‘’She did a bit of quiet half-pace on Saturday and I was really happy with her,’’ he said. ‘’It won’t take much to have her spot on for the Sires’. She’s already race fit.’’

A win in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes will be a milestone for McKay. He experienced Group One success with Puccini when training in partnership with his father Peter, but a Group One win on his account will be a major boost to the 26-year-old’s profile.

Aalaalune will be the main focus for McKay this weekend, but he also rates the prospects of his other three Awapuni starters.

Mighty Connor, a three-year-old gelding by Sebring, quit maiden class at Taupo over 1800 metres last December and followed up with a couple of placings before finishing eighth in the Gr. 2 Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa last month.

“He beat home Crown Prosecutor and Langkawi that day and the form out of that race is all around him,’’ McKay said. ‘’He raced upside down in the Guineas and he’ll be ridden handier on Saturday. I’m expecting a bold run.”

Vittachi won three races for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman before changing hands and joining McKay’s team. While he hasn’t won for McKay, he has been placed in half of his eight outings for the young Matamata trainer, including a second two starts ago over 2000 metres at Matamata.
“He’s a promising stayer and I’d like to have a crack at the Rotorua Cup (Group Three, 2200m, May 11) with him, but he needs to win or go close on Saturday,’’ McKay said.

Mr Universe has been placed in his two starts since his maiden win, the most recent a third over 1200 metres at Ellerslie earlier this month.

‘’I’ve been really happy with his runs lately,’’ McKay said. “He’s a chance on Saturday.’’

View the full article