New Zealand Racing

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Great, thanks.

She was above average here, I was on track for her nice maiden win and she ran 5th in our Oaks, but it really looks like she's grown another leg since going over there. Hope she goes well.

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The racing at Ellerslie today was amazing.

Bonecrusher Stakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuWp-j4fHrE
The race was won brilliantly by Rios (3 c Hussonet - Gussy Godiva, 4:2-1-0), who is heading for the Derby in March. Definitely looks like one of the leading contenders, he's a big powerful boy and he charged home along the inside rail. Huge win against a strong field. Look out anyone who gets in his way!

Soliloquy Stakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0rmaQIA_eE
You could say Lovetrista is rather well-bred (3 f Rock Of Gibraltar - Tristalove, 2:1-0-1), coming from Cambridge Stud's amazing dam line (Tristalove - Diamond Lover - Eight Carat...might not mean much to most of you but it's like for me), and she lived up to that today. Those were some really good fillies in behind her but she made them look quite average. 2nd was Keepa Cruisin, who is a half-sister to Seachange.

2 deserving winners, plus Jay Ford won a race on his first day riding in NZ. I might be biased but I don't think any track in NZ beats Ellerslie.

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And here's a nice picture of Lovetrista winning the Soliloquy:

Lovely looking filly.

[my miss storm cat]

Thanks for the replays!

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Saturday is our biggest race for older horses, the Kelt Stakes! Looks like being another fine day and good track at Hastings, amazing. There hasn't been a wet Kelt in the last 15 years.

Great fields all day:

RACE 5 HAWKE'S BAY GUINEAS (GROUP II)
1400m
3yo
$100,000

1 413X1 Alamosa 9 91 56.0 Gavin McKeon Peter McKay, Matamata
2 126X2 El Cuento (AUS) 13 86 56.0 Hayden Tinsley Jim Collett, Matamata
3 18951 Russian Conquest 8 82 56.0 Chris Johnson Graeme Rogerson & Garry Newham, Tuhikaramea
4 113 Fritzy Boy 1 78 56.0 Paul Taylor Alby MacGregor, Opaki
5 1X1 Abbey Way 3 76 56.0 Michael Walker Mark Walker, Matamata
6 X7123 Go Danny 2 74 56.0 Lisa Cropp Grant Searle, Awapuni
7 2X1 Borrack 7 69 56.0 Robert Hannam Adrian Bull, Hunterville
8 10X3 Demhills 14 69 56.0 Glen Boss Patrick & Trent Busuttin, Cambridge
9 26X18 Sanski 12 69 56.0 Mark Du Plessis Neville Couchman, Cambridge
10 60X71 Figuring 11 68 56.0 David Walsh Kay Lane, Otaki
11 4X1 Run Like Al 10 68 56.0 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
12 80264 Three Rings 5 58 56.0 Bruce Herd Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
13 50945 Tridane 4 55 56.0 Jason Waddell Ted Laxon, Hastings
14 1112 Special Mission 6 82 54.5 Noel Harris Mark Walker, Matamata

Alamosa was a G1 winner as a 2yo and is the current favourite for the 2000 Guineas, El Cuento is a G2 winner who was 2nd in that same G1 and looks a much stronger colt this year. Abbey Way is beautifully bred and undefeated, huge winner last start at Taupo (think I posted a video of that one on the last page). Run Like Al beat Lovetrista last start. Special Mission has only been beaten once, and that was after a speed duel.

Most exciting race of the day for me. Amazing.


RACE 7 GR KELT MEMORIAL (GROUP III)
Handicap
1400m
$100,000

1 420X1 Dezigna 2 109 59.5 Troy Harris (a) Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
2 526X5 Clifton Prince 17 104 57.0 Jay Ford Peter McKay, Matamata
3 293X2 Black Panther 15 102 56.0 Chris Johnson Joanne Surgenor, Ardmore Lodge
4 0X587 Jurys Out 11 101 55.5 David & Sarah Haworth, Foxton
5 64X02 Kay's Awake 6 101 55.5 Cameron Lammas Peter McKay, Matamata
6 4655X Wahid 4 101 55.5 Michael Walker Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth
7 18104 Buena Ventura 7 98 54.0 Peter Wells Graeme Rogerson & Garry Newham, Tuhikaramea
8 0650X Cypress Point 16 98 54.0 Gavin McKeon Roger James, Cambridge
9 644X3 Taalisman 13 98 54.0 Tony Gillies, Matamata
10 45136 Rabkalajo 3 97 54.0 Johnathon Parkes (a) Gale Julian, Wanganui
11 462X1 Wazawatsyn 10 97 54.0 Noel Harris Peter & Dawn Williams, Riccarton Park
12 23699 Rat Tat 14 94 53.0 Tony Lawrey, Tauherenikau
13 5182X Giovanni 9 92 52.5 Murray Baker, Cambridge
14 30354 Royal Duke 12 92 52.5 Claire Anderson Wayne Davies, Hastings
15 10022 Marty Boy 8 90 52.0 Marty Johnson, Woodville
16 26X02 Mr Omegen 5 83 52.0 Graeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon, Te Aroha
17 15845 Woodbury Lane 1 97 54.0 Ilone Kelly, New Plymouth

Wahid's back! Derby winner of 2006. Was really average as a 4yo, but apparently he's regained interest in trackwork recently and they're confident of him being back to his best at the age of 5. Dezigna was disappointing in the Singapore Cup, the distance proved to be beyond him against that quality. He loves the 1400m though, and even with that big weight he has to be hard to beat after his amazing win over 1200 under 60.5kg last start. Some nice stayers like Black Panther and Cypress Point will be looking for more distance. Still looks a very competitive race though.


RACE 9 KELT STAKES (GROUP I)
WFA
2040m
$2,000,000

1 327X8 Railings (AUS) 2 114 59.0 Greg Childs Roger James, Cambridge
2 0X072 Sir Slick 11 112 59.0 Bruce Herd Graeme Nicholson & Paul Allbon, Te Aroha
3 13951 Mandela 7 108 59.0 Glen Boss Richard Yuill & Stephen Goodin, Pukekohe Park
4 49X32 Magic Cape 5 94 57.5 Patrick Holmes Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
5 X1511 Seachange 13 112 56.5 Gavin McKeon Ralph Manning, Cambridge
6 22X06 Gaze 4 102 56.5 David Walsh Roger James, Cambridge
7 45255 Ombre Rose 14 95 56.5 Brian Hibberd Shane Marr, Riccarton Park
8 40710 Far Away Places 8 92 56.5 Robert Hannam Jeana Annett, Otaki
9 1X603 Princess Coup (AUS) 12 96 55.0 Noel Harris Mark Walker, Matamata
10 10X60 Splashing Out 3 95 55.0 Michael Walker Guy Lowry, Hastings
11 11270 Porotene Gem 6 94 55.0 David Walker Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
12 X5910 Veloce Bella 1 94 55.0 Michael Coleman Mark Brosnan, Matamata
13 22330 J'Adane 10 90 55.0 Mark Du Plessis Russell Cameron & Gareth McRae, Pukekohe Park
14 00X54 The Pooka (AUS) 9 83 49.5 Lisa Cropp John Wheeler, New Plymouth

Seachange is hot favourite again, but she was last year too and didn't handle the distance. Got a bad gate too, second from the outside. I believe she is the best horse in the race, but I'm just not sure about the distance.

I can't wait for Saturday. I'm going down to the Hawke's Bay so I can be on track for it, straight into the car once my lectures finish on Friday for the 7-hour drive, then back again early Sunday morning so I can get back in time for work at 3pm.

It's going to be awesome.

[my miss storm cat]

Oh! Have a great time and wave to Railings for me!

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edit - Uh oh...

http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/nz/?id=31543

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Just got back and had to go straight to work! I'll post the videos when I get home.

It was a great day! Here are the results:

Hawke's Bay Guineas:
Alamosa
El Cuento
Fritzy Boy

GR Kelt Memorial:
Dezigna
Kay's Awake
Rabkalajo

Kelt Stakes:
Princess Coup
J'Adane
Magic Cape

Seachange was 4th, with the margins being a head, a nose, a nose. Amazing race, what a finish. She didn't go the distance, as some people predicted, ran out of gas about a furlong out but she refused to give up and was less than a neck away at the end. Stunning run by Princess Coup, came from near last down the outside and got up right on the line.

So tired...but Prix de l'Arc day is live on TV here tonight! Might have to tape it, don't think I can stay awake til 3am.