New Zealand Racing

[_ed_]

I was wrong to write off Fully Fledged after a couple of bad efforts. He was huge today in the Sarten Memorial, against the best 3yo field all year. Altered Image 2nd, Kildonan 3rd.

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKiCcMA2n-Y

I think he could probably get a mile, so he's a big chance in the 2000 Guineas.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

I was wrong to write off Fully Fledged after a couple of bad efforts. He was huge today in the Sarten Memorial, against the best 3yo field all year. Altered Image 2nd, Kildonan 3rd.

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKiCcMA2n-Y

I think he could probably get a mile, so he's a big chance in the 2000 Guineas.

Thanks for the link!

Looking GOOD!

[_ed_]

Guineas week starts tomorrow in Christchurch! And I'm going there for a great week of racing and drinking, flying down there tonight.

Tomorrow is 1000 Guineas day...

Race 5
Pegasus Stakes
1000m

1 21181 Our Umaga 2 104 58.0 Kelly Myers (a) Bill Thurlow, Waverley
2 8102X Pushy Too 11 103 57.5 Chris Johnson Steven Woodsford, Balcairn
3 X7506 Clifton Prince 3 102 57.0 Andrew Calder Peter McKay, Matamata
4 118X4 O'Cartier 8 101 56.5 Noel Harris John & Karen Parsons, Balcairn
5 11X44 Volscar 12 100 56.0 Jason Waddell Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
6 134X2 Zeddane 7 93 54.0 David Walsh Michael Pitman, Yaldhurst, Riccarton
7 1316X Thistle 1 92 53.5 Darryl Bradley Steven Prince, Wingatui
8 27X20 Squall 9 88 53.0 Ashlee Mundy Mark Walker, Rangiora
9 11X07 All My Colours (AUS) 4 82 52.5 Scratching Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
10 0X123 Turf Fire 10 77 52.0 Kylie Williams Michael Daly, Washdyke
11 7X923 Our Lily Belle 5 75 52.0 Craig Grylls (a) Jan Hay, Ashburton
12 73314 Please Ya Self 6 74 52.0 Maria Hayston Gary Trusttum, Kingsdown

Nice field, one of my old favs is in there - Clifton Prince. He won this race last year. He's 7 now but still looks like he's loving racing (his recent form has been in really tough fields so doesn't look that great), hope he can go another big race tomorrow.


Race 7
1000 Guineas (G1)
1 1X116 Juice 1 84 56.0 Leith Innes John Wheeler, New Plymouth
2 1X221 Daffodil 3 79 56.0 Hayden Tinsley Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
3 2411 Skirmish 12 78 56.0 Robert Hannam Adrian Bull, Hunterville
4 X8416 Awesome Planet (AUS) 14 77 56.0 Darryl Bradley Graeme Rogerson, Scott Lucock & Roydon Bergerson, Tuhikaramea, Palm Nth
5 11X86 Te Akau Coup 5 74 56.0 Noel Harris Mark Walker, Matamata, Rangiora
6 16X02 Bellalini 9 72 56.0 David Walsh Andrew Scott, Matamata
7 5X422 Glamorous Girl 10 70 56.0 Gavin McKeon Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
8 391 Addicted 6 69 56.0 Chris Johnson Guy Lowry, Hastings
9 4137 Elusive Order 15 69 56.0 David Walker Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu
10 02331 Polly Rocket 11 69 56.0 Renee Fraser Paul Harris, Rangiora
11 1652 Sub Prime 2 69 56.0 Kelly Myers (a) Jim Collett, Matamata
12 9X441 Ekstreme 7 68 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Bryce Revell, New Plymouth
13 9X21 La Etoile 16 68 56.0 Andrew Calder Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
14 6X723 Platinum Zana (AUS) 4 68 56.0 Jason Waddell Lisa Latta, Awapuni
15 13989 Full Pitch 8 67 56.0 Ashlee Mundy Paul Harris, Rangiora
16 9453 Inferno 13 59 56.0 Kylie Williams Brian & Shane Anderton, Wingatui

Most people are saying it's Juice v Daffodil, and I'd love to see those two finish first and second. But there are so many nice fillies here, like Skirmish, Awesome Planet, Glamorous Girl, Te Akau Coup, Addicted, La Etoile...should be awesome.


Race 9
Metropolitan Trophy (G3)

1 7X003 Spin Around (AUS) 7 104 58.0 Gavin McKeon Steven Cooper, Ardmore
2 X6624 Nanjara 6 94 54.5 Darryl Bradley Lisa Latta, Awapuni
3 11372 Quantum Dude 5 94 54.5 Jason Waddell Paul Harris, Rangiora
4 5X354 Le Alto 10 93 54.5 Craig Grylls (a) Neill Ridley, Burnham
5 87351 Il Bacaro 3 90 53.5 Trudy Thornton Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
6 X8963 Of The Essence 11 88 53.0 Jay Misbah (a) Brian & Shane Anderton, Wingatui
7 2X627 Stand Tall 8 88 53.0 Paul Taylor John Wheeler, New Plymouth
8 32144 Tutusafore 4 86 52.5 David Walsh Paul Harris, Rangiora
9 4X454 Halls 2 80 52.0 Robert Hannam David Haworth, Foxton
10 33411 Senorita Smiles 9 80 52.0 Ashlee Mundy Paul Reid & Melanie Cooper, Waverley
11 35836 Gaucho 1 72 52.0 Kelly Myers (a) Kevin Hughes, Riccarton Park

Spin Around has a big weight, but I think he'll go well.


Not sure if I'll make it to an internet cafe during the week, so I'll quickly mention the other days. Wednesday is the Coupland Mile (including Fritzy Boy and Mufhasa!), and the second Saturday is the $1 million 2000 Guineas, with Fully Fledged, Altered Image, Kildonan, Moveovr, Tell A Tale and Il Quello Veloce.

[_ed_]

FINALLY made it to an internet cafe.

1000 Guineas was won by...DAFFODIL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it6mx74iO08

Great race. Absolutely loved it.

Couple of pictures:





Coupland's Mile...Mufhasa!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dSwU3EErds


And my boy Clifton Prince didn't let me down, 3rd and 2nd in two stakes races this week. Good boy.

Tomorrow is the $1 million 2000 Guineas!

1 XD321 Fully Fledged 13 87 56.0 David Walsh Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
2 4X211 Tell A Tale (AUS) 5 82 56.0 Troy Harris Mark Walker, Matamata, Rangiora
3 11932 Altered Image 11 80 56.0 Michael Coleman Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
4 1111 Moveovr 9 80 56.0 Chris Johnson Peter & Dawn Williams, Riccarton Park
5 1X13 Kildonan (AUS) 14 78 56.0 Andrew Calder Yves Seguin, Cambridge
6 12X15 Bright Spark 7 77 56.0 Sam Spratt Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
7 0X250 Minstrel Court (AUS) 2 77 56.0 Craig Newitt Mark Walker, Matamata, Rangiora
8 10373 Blakmandu 12 70 56.0 Shannon Doyle (a) Sandy Dravitzki, New Plymouth
9 X6214 Izonit 8 69 56.0 Grant Cooksley Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
10 31047 Perky Parrot 6 69 56.0 Gavin McKeon Grant Nicholson, Opaki
11 7X913 Six Star 1 69 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Richard & Chris Otto, Te Awamutu
12 432 Grimalkin (AUS) 3 62 56.0 Hayden Tinsley Mandy & Matt Brown, Ngapuke
13 1X371 Il Quello Veloce 10 88 54.5 Noel Harris John Sargent, Matamata
14 X1162 Juice 4 86 54.5 Leith Innes John Wheeler, New Plymouth

I have no idea who's going to win this. I don't even know how the North boys compare with each other - Fully Fledged, Altered Image, Kildonan. How about the undefeated Southerner Moveovr? Or the fillies IQV and Juice?

Can't wait!

[my miss storm cat]

Ooooh nice pictures ed and thanks for the replay!

* * *

Rooting for Fully Fledged but i don't know half the field, so...

Do you know anything Bullet Proof? Is he okay?

Someone asked me if I'd check but i can't find anything.

Thanks in advance and good luck!

[_ed_]

I haven't heard anything sorry, will let you know if I do.

Fully Fledged didn't get the mile in the 2000 Guineas, came 9th.

The winner was so impressive though, Tell A Tale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2mS1qm-p6E

4 wins in 7 career races now, 3 of them stakes (the others were the Hawke's Bay Guineas and Canterbury Stakes). Mark Walker says maybe he'll go to the Derby.

And he's such a nice looking boy too:

[brockguy]

ed, not racing related, but ye guys gave us a lesson yesterday in how to play.

[_ed_]

Today was one of the early prep races for the Derby, the Avondale Guineas. No horse has won both the 2000 Guineas and Derby since Surfers Paradise in 1990. Long way to go, but would you bet against Tell A Tale doing it?

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDkp6M5R320





It might be too soon to say stuff like this, but who cares - Best NZ 3yo since Xcellent. And maybe in the top 3 in the last 10 years. But I am kinda over-excited, just got back from being there at the track.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Best NZ 3yo since Xcellent.

The supreme complement.

Thanks for the replay!

[_ed_]

Zagazig (half-sister to Egyptian Ra) came 3rd in her debut today. Nice effort, might be better over a bit more distance.

[my miss storm cat]

Awww, thanks for the update ed.