Now!

1 114 Big River 2 56.0 James McDonald (a) Mark Walker, Matamata
2 133 Everlasting 15 56.0 Jason Waddell Frank Ritchie, Cambridge
3 1255 Sirrio 10 56.0 Mark Du Plessis Lance Noble, Matamata
4 6251 Hoofit 4 56.0 Michael Rodd Stephen McKee, Ardmore
5 841 Icepin 6 56.0 Sam Spratt Mark Walker, Matamata
6 134X0 Aladdin Prince 13 56.0 Lisa Allpress Peter Hurdle, Awapuni
7 7621 Brave Warrior 9 56.0 Hugh Bowman Kevin Hughes & Dean Wiles, Pukekohe Park
8 1 Nacho Man 8 56.0 Craig Grylls Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
9 12 Banchee 18 54.5 Leith Innes John Sargent, Matamata
10 7X14 Sister Havana 1 54.5 Stathi Katsidis Liam Birchley, Eagle Farm
11 51 Miss Marauder 14 54.5 Andrew Calder Matthew Eales, Awapuni
12 1 Irish Jewel 5 54.5 Opie Bosson Andrew Scott, Matamata
13 45143 My Cool Jo 11 54.5 Noel Harris Paul Belsham, Wanganui
14 412 Belles Fast (AUS) 7 54.5 Michael Walker Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth
15 235 Shekels 16 54.5 Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
16 35031 Common Goal 12 56.0 Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
17 22 Kallisan 17 54.5 Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
18 610 She's A Cougar 3 54.5 Andrew Scott, Matamata


Good field, but because it's restricted to horses purchased at Karaka, I think it's missing NZ's three best 2yos at the moment - Cellarmaster, Jimmy Choux and Lion Tamer.

I like Irish Jewel, Nacho Man and Banchee here.

:D

Can't stand the name, love the horse.

Nacho Man! :tro:

Replays from this weekend.

Trentham, Saturday...
Thorndon Mile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4CRdFh16W0
Wall Street is an excellent horse. But have a look at the performance by Tell A Tale!

Wellington Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlx0L61CKYQ
RR too good. :D

Ellerslie, Sunday...
Karaka 3yo Mile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EQ_bdR-meI
Joey! Never lets them past. Undefeated in 5 starts at a mile.

Karaka Million: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFjJNpAaPOM
:confused:
Good effort by Banchee though.

Wow I feel like such a loser but ed I was almost in tears watching the Red Ruler race!!!

Tella Tale... so proud. What a great effort! I love him. (Nice effort by Banchee too). :)

Nice Joey! I didn't know who he was, I'm sorry to say. I do now!

RR and Tell a Tale though... be still my heart. :D Overjoyed!

The NZ Derby is 31 days away. :D

The big contenders at the moment are Monaco Consul, Katie Lee, Prince Of Wales, Joey Massino, and these horses in bold in Saturday's Waikato Guineas.

1 12325 Military Move 10 84 56.0 Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
2 12116 Imabayboy 1 77 56.0 Trent Busuttin, Cambridge
3 22211 No Fear 2 75 56.0 Bruce Wallace, Takanini
4 113 Corporal Jones 12 74 56.0 Michael Coleman Andrew Scott, Matamata
5 21401 Smokin' Gun 11 74 56.0 Andrew Calder Craig Thornton, Cambridge
6 74441 Spirit Of Unicorn 3 74 56.0 Richard Yuill, Pukekohe Park
7 1418 Tanha Strike (AUS) 9 74 56.0 Bruce Wallace, Takanini
8 1135 Celtic Fantasy (AUS) 7 72 56.0 Sam Spratt Craig Ritchie, Pukekohe Park
9 312 Maciano (AUS) 8 70 56.0 Leith Innes John Sargent, Matamata
10 32713 Tullamore 6 69 56.0 David Haworth & Matt Dixon, Foxton
11 X4421 Bone Of Contention 5 68 56.0 Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
12 9577 Hezapearla 4 54 56.0 Trudy Thornton Don Walker, Pukekohe Park
13 21821 Zarzuela 14 80 54.5 James McDonald (a) Mark Walker, Matamata
14 31X96 Jungle Juice 13 73 54.5 Troy Harris Donna, Dean Logan & Chris Gibbs, Ruakaka

Is it me or are there a ton of really nice runners this year?

No love for Imabayboy? He's no Monaco Counsel but I kinda like him.

Yeah it's a really nice bunch this year. :) You just worry a bit about Katie Lee and Joey Massino handling the distance. I hope they do.

Imabayboy's doing really well in lower grades, but has failed in his 3 stakes starts so far. He's improving all the time though and will change my opinion of him if he runs well this Saturday.

How tough a field is this ed? I've honestly heard of or seen a total of 4 of these horses so I'm pretty clueless.

Have to say there isn't that much stakes form in the race. The only stakes winners are the two fillies, Zarzuela and Jungle Juice. But Military Move was 2nd in the 2000 Guineas and Wellington Guineas, and Celtic Fantasy was 3rd in the Avondale Guineas.

No Fear, Corporal Jones and Maciano have just looked awesome at lower levels. They all have strong stamina pedigrees and just look so good.

Maciano is Redoute's Choice - Popsy. Popsy was the last filly to win the Derby, in 1995. He cost $1.5 million as a yearling, and that's already looking like good value!

Thanks for the history. I've only followed racing since 2004 and NZ only after you showed up here (yea! :D ) so I have no clue about any of it... had never even heard of Popsy, etc.

Took a while, but I found it. :D
I'm seeing a pattern...

NZ Derby winners:

2001: Leica Guv
2003: Cut The Cake
2005: No race (they moved it from December to March)
2007: Redoute's Dancer
2009: Coniston Bluebird

I don't rate any of these horses as worthy Derby winners. None of them did much after winning this race (too early to say that for CB, but I don't have high hopes).

2000: Hail
2002: St Reims
2004: Xcellent
2006: Wahid
2008: C'est La Guerre

All really good horses.

2010 should be good. :tro:

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...t=27642&page=3

Nice!

Can't wait to actually see it!

Thanks in advance for the replay.

:D

Zarzuela was so good today. She looked half asleep walking around out the back before the race, and I thought she was too far back half way through it, but then she went WHOOOSH!

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJMqU75285M

Oh wow that was impressive!

Whooosh indeed! :tro:

What a nice girl. :)

Confused ed... Nom du Jeu has been "secured" for stud duty. Does that mean he's now retired or just that he will be?

Yes, he's retired. He'll be at Fairdale Stud next season. It's weird how long they took to decide which stud he'd go to.

Order of entry for the NZ Derby at the moment:

1 Monaco Consul
2 Katie Lee
3 Joey Massino
4 Military Move
5 Zarzuela
6 Martial Art
7 King Raedwald
8 Time Keeper
9 Jungle Juice
10 Smokin' Gun
11 Corporal Jones
12 Ballybit
13 Sirani
14 Celtic Fantasy
15 Handsome Zulu
16 Imabayboy
17 Kilkenny
18 Walk Away

And these ones need to win more money, fast!
19 Amazing Spy
20 Kullu
21 Maciano
22 The Suleiman
23 Roman Gladiator
24 No Emotion
25 Volgus
26 Promenade
27 Hezapearla
28 Hiace
29 The Beaut

Starting next week, I'll do some profiles and stuff for the Derby contenders. :)

When is the Derby, ed?

Is Tell a Tale running tonight (tomorrow)?

The Derby is March 6.

Tell A Tale ran today, and ran very well. :)

Replays:

G2 Fillies Classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw8Pob1BIHg (KATIE! :))
G1 International: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpbZptRFPKU
G1 Waikato Sprint: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn7McCj37dY

Hahahaha he sure did and he's such a gentleman that he knew Veloce Bella needed that win. Happy G1 win :tro: !!! Beautiful run by both.

Honestly I a. didn't know Kaie was running again and b. haven't watched it cause I'm not sure if poor Translated, if it shows... I'm just thinking I'll pass on watching that one.

I never stop being thrilled for katie though.