New Zealand Racing, 2011-12

[_ed_]

In better news, it was a great day on Saturday.

Red Ruler was scratched from the G2 Counties Cup because of soreness in a front leg. The trainer said “I don’t think it’s anything serious and he should be fine again after a couple of days.”

In his absence, the Cup was one for the little guys - Postman's Daughter won the race for local owner/trainer/breeder Don Walker.

Replay: http://youtu.be/YJuZjzeQuoU


The lovely Fazzle finally won a big race in the Breeders. Replay: http://youtu.be/GT-_v9-ZjPE


Travino won the 2yo stakes race well. I loved the run of the second horse, Silk Pins, down the outside. Replay: http://youtu.be/hwSsg0xebhI


And look at this maiden win on the undercard. Derby horse?
http://youtu.be/oRGCczVpowk

Great time of year.

Edit: Whoa, the sound is really bad in these videos. Sorry about that.

[my miss storm cat]

Thanks for the Red Ruler news!

Watched the first, very nice! You're right about the sound!

Will watch the other two later.

[_ed_]

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...-Levin-Classic

Aw. I was looking forward to that clash with Antonio.

But the Derby is what really matters for him, so it makes sense.

[my miss storm cat]

That's too bad.

Why did I thinbk Rock'n'Pop was a she? Sorry! I usually don't make that mistake.

[_ed_]

That's perfectly understandable - two very similarly named 3yos by Fastnet Rock won the two big Guineas races this month.

Rock 'n' Pop is a colt who won the 2000 Guineas, and Planet Rock is a filly who won the fillies' version of that race, the 1000 Guineas. You're not the first one to get them mixed up since then!

Other news - Roger James might be going to appeal! http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times...ay-be-appealed Wow.

[my miss storm cat]

Thank you that's who I'm thinking of!

Who else is running this weekend?

Good luck, Antonio!

[_ed_]

G1 Levin Classic

1 2X111 Antonio Lombardo 6 93 56.5 Sam Spratt Peter McKay, Matamata
2 48431 Duckworth Lewis 16 85 56.5 Leith Innes Leo Molloy, Byerley Park
3 20X21 Brackenwood 4 82 56.5 Darryl Bradley Lisa Latta, Awapuni
4 X3156 Estrato 15 76 56.5 Jason Waddell Peter McKay, Matamata
5 0X714 Shanghai Bund 7 76 56.5 James McDonald (a) John Sargent, Matamata
6 2151 Randall 18 73 56.5 Jason Collett (a) Gareth McRae, Pukekohe Park
7 113 San Rafael 10 73 56.5 Jonathan Riddell Mike Breslin, Awapuni
8 47X87 Distill 9 65 56.5 Robert Hannam Roydon Bergerson, Awapuni
9 4X81 Danny Ricardo 11 64 56.5 Buddy Lammas Gary Vile, Awapuni
10 15 Platinum Playboy 14 64 56.5 Patrick Holmes Shane Crawford, Cambridge
11 0X542 Release Me 8 64 56.5 Hayden Tinsley Stephen McKee, Ardmore
12 6X315 Viking Ace 3 64 56.5 Cameron Lammas Karyn McQuade, Matamata
13 4X22 Urunga 12 54 56.5 Kelly Myers Adrian Bull, Hunterville
14 51345 Whoshe 2 76 54.5 Mark Sweeney Richard Otto, Te Awamutu
15 0741 Lego 1 64 54.5 Lisa Allpress Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
16 01X47 Smoke 'N' Mirrors 17 63 54.5 David Walker Francis Finnegan, Woodville
17 64 Ratnaraj 5 51 56.5 Peter McKenzie, Levin

Antonio is clearly the best horse in that field. My only concern is that apparently the weather's not great down there today. I'm not sure how he'll handle a wet track.



There's also a nice G3 here in Auckland this weekend:

1 111X4 Veyron 6 99 58.0 Rogan Norvall Linda Laing, Cambridge
2 000X0 Sir Slick 14 101 55.0 Jason Waddell John Sargent, Matamata
3 X3X93 Pasta Post 16 100 55.0 Mark Sweeney Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
4 X6654 Vonusti 2 95 55.0 Leith Innes Tim & Margaret Carter, Cambridge
5 784X1 Heza Karma Karzi 7 94 55.0 Craig Grylls John Sargent, Matamata
6 25279 Kaap Kruis 12 92 55.0 Alysha Collett (a) Aidan Schumacher, Stratford
7 24827 New Moon 18 87 55.0 Jason Jago Tony Devcich, Cambridge
8 907X5 Izonit 9 85 55.0 Cameron Lammas Fred Cornege, Cambridge
9 X1341 Sadist 11 77 55.0 Vinnie Colgan John Sargent, Matamata
10 5X631 Rochallen 8 76 55.0 Scratching Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
11 035X2 Lofty 13 75 55.0 Paul Taylor Daniel Flavell, Ardmore Lodge
12 X2851 Lady Chaparral 17 99 54.0 Matthew Cameron Chris Wood, Cambridge
13 54718 Nicole Amy 15 98 53.0 Samantha Collett Paul Jenkins, Matamata
14 32X23 Shez Sinsational 10 89 53.0 James McDonald (a) Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth
15 14204 Affairoftheheart 4 88 53.0 Rory Hutchings (a) Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
16 7X022 Catalina 1 88 53.0 Michael Coleman Guy Lowry & Grant Cullen, Hastings
17 2X171 Jeu de Cartes 3 83 53.0 Jason Collett (a) Murray Baker, Cambridge
18 23X24 Floria 5 79 53.0 Sam Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore

I'd love to see Sir Slick do well, or the great but injury-prone Pasta Post. But realistically I think it'll be Veyron, Shez Sinsational or Floria.

Wish I could be at Ellerslie for this race, but I have to work that day.