Fields for Saturday, the last day of another great Derby week:

Mr Tiz Trophy (3yo sprint)

1 11135 Antonio Lombardo 11 92 58.0 Danielle Johnson Peter McKay, Matamata
2 11633 Burgundy 9 80 56.5 Matthew Cameron Jason Bridgman, Matamata
3 30591 Ginner Hart 14 82 56.0 Alexander Fieldes, Wanganui
4 41223 Precision King 5 81 56.0 Jonathan Riddell Murray Baker, Cambridge
5 115 St Yazin 4 75 56.0 Opie Bosson Chris McNab, Cambridge
6 23411 Witz End 8 75 56.0 Samantha Collett Jim Collett, Matamata
7 14211 Civics Rock 3 74 56.0 Leith Innes Ralph Manning, Cambridge
8 62500 Caipirinha 12 70 56.0 Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield, Te Awamutu
9 3712 Jubilate 10 65 56.0 Masa Tanaka Graham Richardson, Matamata
10 13003 Holy Moly 1 76 54.5 Michael Coleman Roger James, Cambridge
11 06X11 Scarlet O'Hara 7 79 54.0 Lisa Allpress Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
12 1115 Xanadu 2 78 54.0 James McDonald Ken & Bev Kelso, Matamata
13 4X249 Ready Steady 13 75 54.0 Sam Spratt Andrew Scott, Matamata
14 X4L54 Queen Boudicca 6 64 54.0 Craig Grylls Jason Price, Matamata



G1 Diamond Stakes (2yo)

1 2141 Choice Bro 12 80 56.5 Matthew Cameron John Sargent, Matamata
2 2613 Warhorse 4 75 56.5 Opie Bosson Jason Bridgman, Matamata
3 11105 Travino 1 74 56.5 Jason Waddell Peter McKay, Matamata
4 13 Croatia 9 68 56.5 Harry Kasim (a) Mark Brosnan, Matamata
5 215 Mai Guru 8 64 56.5 Leith Innes Kevin Hughes & Dean Wiles, Pukekohe Park
6 354 Roof Of Reckoning 7 55 56.5 Trudy Thornton Rudy Liefting, Pukekohe Park
7 3 King Zeus 6 51 56.5 Jonathan Riddell Donna & Dean Logan, Ruakaka
8 5211 Rollout The Carpet 11 78 54.5 James McDonald Jeff McVean & Emma-Lee Browne, Cambridge
9 124X3 Seleno 2 75 54.5 Lisa Allpress Moira Murdoch & Dominic Olson, Waiuku
10 12623 Silk Pins 3 75 54.5 Michael Coleman Keith & Brendon Hawtin, Te Awamutu
11 1 Soriano 10 64 54.5 Sam Spratt Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
12 9X26 Coat du Roan 5 52 54.5 Danielle Johnson Leo Molloy, Byerley Park



G1 New Zealand Stakes (GREAT field)

1 11211 Veyron 11 109 59.0 Mark Hills Linda Laing, Cambridge
2 43324 Hold It Harvey 6 104 59.0 Jason Waddell Terri Rae, Riccarton Park
3 X7437 Doctor Fremantle 5 100 59.0 Opie Bosson Lauren Brennan, Cambridge
4 456X0 Showcause 3 99 59.0 Darryl Bradley Frank Ritchie, Cambridge
5 58076 Vosne Romanee 4 99 59.0 Matthew Cameron Jeff Lynds, Awapuni
6 49512 Riomoral 9 94 59.0 Phillip Turner (a) Karyn McQuade, Matamata
7 51245 Postman's Daughter 1 101 57.0 Rory Hutchings (a) Don Walker, Pukekohe Park
8 11412 Lady Kipling 8 100 57.0 Lisa Allpress Murray Baker, Cambridge
9 178X1 Scarlett Lady 7 99 57.0 James McDonald Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
10 82373 Inferno 2 97 57.0 Michael Coleman Ken & Bev Kelso, Matamata
11 42329 Shuka 10 83 54.5 Sam Spratt Peter & Dawn Williams, Byerley Park

Good luck Antonio and Silk Pins.

This field though? Stunning! I'm familiar with and a fan of all but three so I cannot be objective.

I would be over the moon if Vosne Romanee won, it would be so cool if Shuka did but I guess if I were actually playing it I might use Lady Kipling up there but you know forget that... too many that are incredibly good so yeah I will be happy no matter what but my heart is with Vosne Romanee. :)

You?

I'd love to see any of those win, but I think the likeliest ones are Veyron and Scarlett Lady.

Warhorse wins the Diamond by DQ. :( Never a good way to decide a big race. But Rollout The Carpet couldn't stay up after that interference.

Scarlett Lady v Veyron was a great battle in the NZ Stakes.

Nicely done!

Looked at results... was Antonio scratched or did I miss his name (like I did with Warhorse - didn't know he was running cause I read it all too fast but yes I agree NOT a good way to win one)?

Haven't watched replays yet but I was surprised at where Shuka ended up...

Antonio was 3rd. He had a really wide gate and had to use up a lot of energy to get to the lead and get across. I thought it was a good effort.

I think Shuka was just telling his connections that he's had enough racing for now. He never looked interested yesterday. It sounds like he'll get a break now.

Jimmy Choux will resume in the G1 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on April 14.

NZ OAKS this weekend in Wellington.

1 11441 Planet Rock 3 96 56.5 Damian Browne Peter & Dawn Williams, Byerley Park
2 44351 Artistic 2 90 56.5 Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
3 33222 Capital Diamond 1 90 56.5 Jonathan Riddell Lisa Latta, Awapuni
4 11515 Zurella 9 90 56.5 Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
5 21133 Quintessential 17 88 56.5 Lisa Allpress John Sargent, Matamata
6 31164 Chicharita 12 85 56.5 Chad Ormsby Michael Moroney & Andrew Clarken, Matamata
7 12732 Joy's Choice 6 85 56.5 Leith Innes Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
8 41523 Splitsecond 7 80 56.5 James McDonald Roger James, Cambridge
9 32153 Poste Restante 16 75 56.5 Hayden Tinsley Howie Mathews, Otaki
10 63124 Savasong 5 70 56.5 Rory Hutchings (a) Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
11 48105 Melody Celebre 15 68 56.5 Louise Saunders, Pukekohe
12 42173 Tilda 8 64 56.5 Rosie Myers (a) Jeff McVean & Emma-Lee Browne, Cambridge
13 30371 Asavant 18 63 56.5 Noel Harris John & Karen Parsons, Balcairn
14 31928 Jungle Pago 4 63 56.5 Johnathon Parkes Fraser Auret, Marton
15 28414 Lady Platinum 14 63 56.5 Kelly Myers Lisa Latta, Awapuni
16 76144 Manhattan Mam 13 63 56.5 Sam Spratt Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park
17 41582 Myminkcoat 10 63 56.5 Buddy Lammas Gary Vile, Awapuni

Planet Rock and Zurella the favourites, and rightly so. I think one of them wins this. Splitsecond's a nice longshot chance.

I'd love to go to the NZ Oaks one day. I've never been! Although I did go to Trentham last year to see the Telegraph.

Can't wait and I vote that you somehow go to the Oaks!

Anything else good this coming weekend?

How are your horses?????

Pinzaara ran at Ellerslie on Saturday. She came 9th. It was a really hot field, so I wasn't too disappointed, especially since she used up so much energy being naughty before the race! The big crowd upset her, I think.

The 2yo has been named Intuition and should be racing in a month or two. :)

Nice news and continued good luck and oh I do love that name!

Oaks odds.

Planet Rock 4.80
Artistic 15
Capital Diamond 9.00
Zurella 3.50f
Quintessential 12
Chicharita 7.00
Joy's Choice 15
Splitsecond 10
Poste Restante 26
Savasong 50
Tilda 80
Asavant 30
Jungle Pago 100
Lady Platinum 100
Manhattan Mam 41
Myminkcoat 100

Artistic! In a photo finish with Zurella, which makes it a 1-2 for The Oaks Stud and trainer Shaune Ritchie.

Quintessential 3rd.

Haven't watched the replay yet but you seem happy so hooray!

Planet Rock last? Am I reading this right?

Yes. :( There was doubt over whether she'd get a mile and a half, and it was obvious from the turn into the stretch that she wasn't going to.

Back to a mile now for her, I hope! She's amazing over that distance.

Okay well next time!

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...sehill-Guineas
Poor James. :(

That SUCKS.

This is what it reminds me of...

It's from quite a few years ago but I will never forget it cause I loved Ace so much and thought the ride was terrible.

Fallon, on Ace...

"There were a couple in America as well. Ivan Denisovich was second in the Secretariat Stakes. Ad Valorem was third in the Woodbine Mile. Ace in the Arlington Million.”

“If you had been riding Ace,” I venture, “you might have gone close?”

“Well, I wouldn’t have been sitting out the back anyway,” he says. “You know what I mean? These guys don’t know the horses.”

“Is it a big deal to know the horse?”

“Bloody sure it is.”

http://donnmcclean.com/2006/10/14/kieren-fallon/

Ridiculous decision. Nothing against Bowman, of course, but... :(

I'm sure you already know this but just incase... James is riding at Sha Tin on the 1st. :)

That's so true. Look at Jonathan Riddell and Jimmy Choux - they're inseparable, and Jonathan hasn't given Jimmy a single bad ride.

And knowing the horse is REALLY important with Silent Achiever. She goes through a flat patch in her races where it seems like she's completely finished. I hope Hugh doesn't go "Oh well, she's done" and give up! You have to keep asking her and asking her, and then eventually she'll go "Oh, alright" and whooosh!

I didn't know that! Thanks! I hope he does well.

I know Vonusti probably won't win tomorrow but good luck anyway. :)

I haven't watched it yet.

I guess it wasn't his day, huh?

Not today. :( It was an off track, and a lot of horses weren't handling it.

But a great win by Villifye. She's been close in a lot of big races this season, so she deserved that.

I still haven't watched it yet but was just surprised seeing where he and Smoulder finished and a few others.

Congrats to the winner though.

What's coming up next weekend?

It's the G1 Sires' Produce Stakes next weekend! I hate to admit it, since it's not in Auckland, but it's probably NZ's 2yo championship race. It's been better in the last 10 years than our Diamond Stakes.

Three other stakes races on their card as well, so it should be a good day.

He is just so beautiful.

... and bolder... yes!

Hey do you happen to remember a horse named Dullingham (trained by Jim Collett)? Anyway he's now Kyara and won at Sha Tin last night, beating a really nice field.

Who should we be looking forward to seeing in the race next weekend?

I have to say I don't remember Dullingham, but here's his NZ record:
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/GoRacing/H...le.aspx/269661

He won a race by almost eight lengths! So the talent was obviously there.

The G1 this weekend is going to be a rematch of the memorable (for all the wrong reasons) Diamond Stakes - Warhorse v the very naughty Rollout The Carpet. Hope they both go straight this time and we find out who's the best. There are also some undefeated horses taking on the big guns for the first time - one called Fix has impressed me in both of her races so far, so I'm looking forward to seeing how she copes at G1 level.

And my girl (well, 3% mine) is running at Te Rapa tomorrow!

1 24362 Gunsmoke 8 65 59.0 Rory Hutchings (a2) Jason Bridgman, Matamata
2 3431X Kiwi Spirit 16 64 58.5 Chad Ormsby Michael Moroney & Andrew Clarken, Matamata
3 6715X Savvy Dancer 15 63 58.0 Scratching Michael Moroney & Andrew Clarken, Matamata
4 39789 Molto Grato 4 62 57.0 Christopher Dell (a3) Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield, Te Awamutu
5 06436 Amadeo 5 61 57.0 Cameron Lammas Margaret Falconer, Cambridge
6 9215X Daisy Louise 6 64 56.5 Shannon Doyle John Wheeler, New Plymouth
7 62740 Innovation 10 64 56.0 Lisa Allpress Ralph Manning, Cambridge
8 1746X Miss Evita 7 63 56.0 Lisa Cropp Toni Croon, Cambridge
9 14507 A Cool Change 11 59 55.5 Jason Waddell Keith & Brendon Hawtin, Te Awamutu
10 5314 Sora Dawning 12 62 55.0 Matthew Cameron Andrew Scott, Matamata
11 64619 Pinzaara 14 61 54.5 Craig Grylls Stephen McKee, Ardmore
12 41478 Diamonds In Time 3 60 54.5 Alysha Collett (a1) David Medcalfe, Takanini
13 058X0 Kaapdiva 1 60 54.5 Alex Forbes (a3) Stephen Marsh, Cambridge
14 3108X Katya Grace 9 60 54.5 Michael Coleman Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
15 18X8X Mojave Aster 13 60 54.5 Shohei Shirahama (a2) Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari
16 4080X Gee Oh 2 59 54.0 Aimee Taylor (a3) Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea

She's drawn a terrible gate - almost in the car park. :( But hopefully Craig can somehow give her a miracle trip!

Managed to sneakily find a TV at work and watch it. She ran so great! Really proud of her.

Oh my God ed!!!!!

Is this right??? Second???

I am thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!!


28/03/2012 Te Rapa

2 Saturn Rock Hcp (65) 1400m
WT:54.0 API:0.71 $7,000
Race Record: 1:21.00 Roman Toia 05 Feb 2011 RST90 SOT:G G

FP BM RSSF API HORSE TAB JOCKEY TRAINER WT BP SP NSW VIC UNI BF
1 0.0 77.9 0.8 Gunsmoke 1 R Hutchings Jason Bridgman 59.0 8 $1.0 $2.9 $2.8
4G O'Reilly (NZ) The Gem (NZ) (Personal Escort (USA))
2 1.8 76.1 0.6 :) Pinzaara :) 11 Craig Grylls Stephen Mckee 54.5 14 $8.0 $13.9 $27.6
3F Pins (AUS) Barzar Babe (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
3 4.6 73.3 0.8 Miss Evita 8 Lisa Cropp Toni Croon 56.0 7 $9.0 $21.2 $40.4
4M San Luis (AUS) Niece'S Gift (NZ) (Bakharoff (USA))
4 - 72.3 0.0 Kaapdiva 13 A Forbes Stephen Marsh 54.5 1 $14.0 $64.1 $28.3

5 - 71.9 0.4 Amadeo 5 Cameron Lammas Margaret Falconer 57.0 5 $5.0 $17.9 $17.8

6 - 71.4 1.3 A Cool Change 9 Jason Waddell Keith & Brendon Hawtin 55.5 11 $6.0 $13.3 $14.9

7 - 71.3 1.4 Kiwi Spirit 2 Chad Ormsby Michael Moroney & Andrew Clarken 58.5 16 $7.0 $12.8 $11.0

8 - 71.1 1.0 Sora Dawning 10 Matthew Cameron Andrew Scott 55.0 12 $4.0 $12.3 $10.3

9 - 70.7 0.7 Katya Grace 14 Michael Coleman Shaune Ritchie 54.5 9 $10.0 $36.7 $47.0

10 - 70.5 0.8 Molto Grato 4 C Dell Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield 57.0 4 $3.0 $8.2 $9.4

11 - 70.4 1.0 Innovation 7 Lisa Allpress R R Manning 56.0 10 $2.0 $6.4 $6.4

12 - 70.2 0.6 Diamonds In Time 12 Alysha Collett David Medcalfe 54.5 3 $11.0 $28.1 $20.2

13 - 68.6 0.1 Gee Oh 16 A Taylor Graeme & Debbie Rogerson 54.0 2 $15.0 $73.2 $114.4

14 - 66.9 1.0 Mojave Aster 15 S Shirahama Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie 54.5 13 $13.0 $39.5 $30.6

15 - 63.7 0.0 Daisy Louise 6 Shannon Doyle J Wheeler 56.5 6 $12.0 $40.7 $29.6

So proud!

I have to admit I didn't put a bet on her. I should have more faith!

And it's a NZ invasion in the G1 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney tomorrow! Including the great filly.

1 128321X803 SANGSTER (NZ) Trent Busuttin Danny Nikolic 7 56.5kg 105
2 X373112X00 INDUNA Peter Snowden Christian Reith 3 56.5kg 90
3 1221X5132 ROCK ’N’ POP (NZ) Jason Bridgman Jim Cassidy 10 56.5kg 98
4 318121X570 DOCTOR DOOM Guy Walter Rod Quinn 16 56.5kg 92
5 21X1113X99 GALAH Peter Snowden Joshua Parr 2 56.5kg 88
6 752315X527 STRIKE THE STARS Anthony Cummings Blake Shinn 4 56.5kg 95
7 1X1312X096 DARCI BE GOOD Bede Murray Peter Robl 15 56.5kg 90
8 X04313X864 SABRAGE Michael Moroney Damien Oliver 12 56.5kg 89
9 34324X3351 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 6 56.5kg 95
10 13X2122 SAID COM Chris Waller Dwayne Dunn 20 56.5kg 94
11 111X275 PROLIFERATE Mick Price Michael Walker 13 56.5kg 87
12 281134X844 AMBIDEXTER Peter Snowden Mark Zahra 8 56.5kg 91
13 11X13 LASER HAWK Gai Waterhouse Nash Rawiller 9 56.5kg 92
14 6X58111316 MERLIN MUSTANG Michael J Murphy Brenton Avdulla 19 56.5kg 78
15 5511X846 BIG TIME Chris Waller Corey Brown 5 56.5kg 75
16 112128 OCEAN PARK (NZ) Gary Hennessy Glen Boss 11 56.5kg 90
17 31X1734 HOYLONNY Chris Waller Michael Rodd 18 56.5kg 74
18 2131111 SILENT ACHIEVER (NZ) Roger James Hugh Bowman 17 54.5kg 103
19e 332 ETHIOPIA Pat Carey Rhys McLeod 14 56.5kg
20e 441226 ON EVERY LEVEL Scott Aspery Jay Ford 1 56.5kg 66

And she's the 3-1 favourite. :)

Let me know once she's won so I remember to go watch the replay. :)

Good luck to all 4!

Choice Bro won the G1 2yo race.

This was a nice performance, but I'm not convinced about this year's 2yo crop. None of them have really impressed or excited me.

But Silent Achiever didn't debut until four months into her 3yo season, so there's still hope that there are some good ones that haven't come out yet!

Speaking of Silent Achiever, less than 90 minutes to go...

Eagle Mountain 4th in the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup! He ran a great race.

Ooooh. Silent Achiever 3rd in a three-way photo finish. She had a rough trip as well. That was a really good effort.

Where was I?

I don't know Sir Slick was in this race or Vosne Romanee who I guess did okaaay.

Cheers to Silent Achiever.

Loved the names of the races at Ellerslie on the 31st. Very cool.

Need some good news... what's coming up next weekend?

This weekend is a G1 race for the fillies and mares. Sounds like it'll be a nice field - Postman's Daughter, Fazzle, Lady Kipling, Smoulder, Say No More, Do Ra Mi, Villifye, Xanadu and others.

But the most exciting thing is we're less than two weeks away from the Easter Handicap. So that means... http://nzracing.onsport.co.nz/video/...f-jimmy-choux/

Can't wait!

Hey is Mufhasa gonna don the crown and go to Rosehill on Saturday?

I think so. It was mentioned as a target for this campaign a while ago. I haven't heard anything since, but I see he's in the field with Nash booked to ride. So it looks like he'll be running. :)

He's Remarkable is also in the race.