Awesome racing in NZ today, at our 2 premier tracks.
Trentham was the bigger day of the two, with 3 stakes races including the G1 Captain Cook.
First up though was the Wellesley Stakes, the first stakes race for the little 2yos. A great stretch duel between 2 undefeated horses, the winner Vincent Mangano and brave filly Silk Spur.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrO2oGdStww
And then the Wellington Guineas, where the 2000 Guineas favourite and Derby favouite clashed for the first time. Rios, the Derby favourite, got it by a nose. Amazing race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK_ckFEkTSY
Then the big upset of the day in the G1 Captain Cook Stakes. The best horse in the country, Seachange, was even money favourite but it was last year's 1000 Guineas winner Dorabella's day today. And she won it by 4 lengths!
Seachange probably not at her best, possibly still feeling the effects of her gut-busting 4th in the Kelt. But full credit to Dorabella, that was HUGE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHMEjNDWmc8
And it was a great day as usual at Ellerslie, pretty much perfect apart from the sunburn I think I've suffered! The main race had heaps of really good horses in it, but they were thrashed by a boy called Wahid. The NZ Derby winner of 2006 is back!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COvoD0Cd5D0