New Zealand Racing, 2009-10

[_ed_]

That's a really tough punishment. I hope he comes back after that long break hungrier for success and better than before. We need him!

I think you'll like some of these results from today...

Sires' Produce Stakes (G1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYbH1Tn2n7Q
Awapuni Gold Cup (G2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLuLYhjfSlI

[my miss storm cat]

"SIR SLICK MAY HAVE THEM IN TROUBLE HERE....."

Oh my God ed I am ******* dying here!

Saw your post, didn't know they were entered, didn't go and look at results so i could be surprised.

Sorry Banchee didn't do it but she has so many great wins and was absolutely thrilled to see our boy with the silly name do it!

Clicked on the other race and I'm thinking okay yea He is entered but who else is here and maybe RR will win and He will be 2nd and aaaahhhhhhhh..... I'm laughing and crying at the same time. That was brilliant! One of my favorites of all time now and all the concern between the two of us.... age, injuries, form and look what he does?

I am over the moon and so happy to be proven wrong.

He is amazing and you all are lucky to have a national treasure like him.

Right when he crosses the finish.... what is the announcer saying?

I've probably woken half the neighborhood blasting it trying to figure it out!

Thank you for the fantastic way to start the day my friend.

[_ed_]

I'll try to translate it for you!

"He is back, the warhorse of NZ racing. Salute him, he's a beauty! Sir Slick the prize."

[my miss storm cat]

Oh thanks!

* * *

Just because...


Sunday, April 04, 2010
War horse Sir Slick wins third Gold Cup

By John Jenkins

New Zealand’s war horse Sir Slick, who almost died on Christmas day of rat poison, was given a heroes reception when he bounced back to his best to win his third Awapuni Gold Cup yesterday.

Trainer and co-owner Graeme Nicholson recalled in his victory speech how he found Sir Slick struck down by a mystery illness and how it was later revealed that someone had mixed rat poison in his feed.

Nicholson said if it wasn’t for Te Aroha vet, Graeme Waugh, who spent four hours working tirelessly on Sir Slick, the horse probably would have died.

“He got the horse right again and then unfortunately died himself of a heart attack last week,” Nicholson said.

“He was only 52 and his funeral is in Te Aroha next Tuesday and I’ll be parading Sir Slick there,” he added.

Sir Slick was having his 117th start yesterday and chalked up his 22nd win.

He was contesting the Awapuni Gold Cup for the fourth year in succession, following wins in 2007 and 2008 and a second behind MacO’Reilly last year.

“Slick and I love this place,” an emotional Nicholson said.

Matamata apprentice Samantha Collett renewed her association with Sir Slick yesterday and the win was her biggest to date.

“I’ve won the Group 3 Tauranga Stakes on him and been placed in a lot of other group races but this is my best win,” a happy Collett said.

She had Sir Slick in the lead in the early stages of the 2000-metre race but was content to let him settle in the trail when Robert Hannam was keen to lead on Borrack.

“As soon as I got to the 600 I just clicked him up and he took the lead again and kicked away,” Collett said.

Sir Slick had 1-3/4 lengths on his rivals at the finish, with Manonamission running on well to fill second ahead of Red Ruler and Vosne Romanee.

Red Ruler’s rider Mark Du Plessis said the horse would probably improve from the run, just his second one back after a break, while Vosne Romanee's rider Opie Bosson said the horse felt okay but couldn’t produce the necessary sprint in the straight.

“He took a while to wind up and was just grinding to the line,” Bosson said.

Vosne Romanee is booked on a flight to Sydney later this month where he will contest the Group 1 $A350,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 24.

http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/n....aspx?id=46049

[my miss storm cat]

Keep the Peace and Monoco Consul...

Do you see either one winning the Australian Derby and are there any other NZ kids going?

[_ed_]

Monaco Consul could win it if he was back at his best, but he hasn't run that well for a while...

Keep The Peace is good enough, but she only just lasted to win the Oaks here over 2400m, and the Derby horses are probably better, so she might struggle with the distance in that race. But if she does well, it will show that Australia will have to look out whenever Katie goes over there! Katie's definitely a better horse than KTP.

Handsome Zulu (3rd in the Derby) might be going too. The Derby winner, Military Move, isn't, which is a shame because I think he would have a good chance.

Military Move, Handsome Zulu and Corporal Jones will all race in Hong Kong next season.

[my miss storm cat]

Thanks ed.

What's the next big race over there?