New Zealand Racing 2013-14

[_ed_]

Now let's look at the Avondale Guineas 1-2-3.


PUCCINI
colt
Encosta de Lago – Miss Opera (half-brother to six-time G1 winner Sir Slick)


Owner: Monovale Farm (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Peter and Jacob McKay (no Derby wins)
Rider: Michael Walker (Military Move 2010)

Not sold at auction; retained by the breeders.

(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 13:4-1-3

Stakes races:
1st Great Northern Guineas (G2)
1st Waikato Guineas (G2)
1st Avondale Guineas (G2)
3rd Champagne Stakes (L, 2yo)
4th New Zealand 2000 Guineas (G1)
4th Levin Classic (G1)
5th Matamata Slipper (L, 2yo)

He took eight starts to clear maidens, but since then his record is four wins from six starts, with two G1 fourths. Any thoughts of his Great Northern Guineas win being a fluke have been destroyed by brilliant wins in the Waikato and Avondale Guineas, dominating from in front after a rocky trip up to and around the first turn. His performances along the road to the Derby have been unbelievable, and he towers over his opposition in terms of what he’s achieved so far. The rightful and deserving favourite for NZ’s greatest race.

Odds: opened at 30-1; 17-1 after GN Guineas; 8-1 after Waikato Guineas; now 3-1f.


RISING ROMANCE
filly
Ekraar – Post Romance (Ekraar is the sire of 2013 Derby winner Habibi, as well as other G1-winning females Shez Sinsational and Ekstreme)


Owner: John Carter, Brian Carter and Ross Powell (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Donna and Dean Logan (Habibi 2013)
Rider: Michael Coleman (Cut The Cake 2003, Xcellent 2004)

Not sold at auction; retained by the breeders.

(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 7:3-1-1

Stakes races:
1st Royal Stakes (G2)
1st Trevor Eagle Memorial (L)
2nd Avondale Guineas (G2)
3rd Eight Carat Classic (G2)

Since her shock win as a 35-1 longshot in the Trevor Eagle, Rising Romance has just got better and better with every race. She dominated in the Royal Stakes, and then, after a six-week break, came back with a strong-closing second in the Avondale Guineas. She looks like the only horse out of that race with the potential to turn the tables on Puccini in the Derby. It’s deja vu – an Ekraar filly, trained by the Logans, running a solid race in the Avondale and about to peak in the Derby. Can she follow in Habibi’s footsteps? The Logans would become the first trainers to win the Derby back-to-back since Mike Moroney in 2003-4.

Odds: opened at 40-1; 5-1f after Royal Stakes; now 4-1 second-favourite.


GLORIOUS LAD
gelding
Falkirk – Luscious Lass


Owner: K Lau, S Fung, S Wong and D Chan (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Shaune Ritchie (Military Move 2010)
Rider: Mark du Plessis

(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 7:3-2-1

Stakes races:
2nd Wellington Stakes (G3)
3rd Avondale Guineas (G2)
4th Waikato Guineas (G2)

One of the most consistent horses of this year’s 3yo crop, Glorious Lad has never finished further back than fourth – and that fourth in the Waikato Guineas was arguably unlucky. And you have to take notice when Shaune Ritchie, trainer of Derby winner Military Move and Oaks winners Keep The Peace and Artistic, says he’s “the most exciting 3-year-old I’ve ever had”. Finished solidly in the Avondale Guineas last weekend. But Falkirk is a speed sire, and there are doubts about Glorious Lad at a mile and a half. There’s only one way to find out, and that’s on Derby day.

Odds: opened at 27-1; 11-1 on Jan 12; 6-1 second-favourite after Waikato Guineas; now 7-1 third-favourite.

[my miss storm cat]

Fantastic write ups, ed!!!!!

Such an exciting time of year.

Good news...

Veyron back in work

20 February 2014, 9:40 a.m.

Five-time Group One winner Veyron returned to light work on Wednesday morning.

... and as if that weren't good enough good luck to THE HOMBRE on Saturday and wow that is some field on Sunday! Head is spinning! (Would be amazing to see Final Touch win though).

(... AND g/l to The Grinner on Monday! Will be away for a couple of days so have to get all this in just incase).

[my miss storm cat]

Poor guy. Hope he makes it.

Mosquito fighting for Survival

21 February 2014, 9:06 a.m.

The Donna and Dean Logan-trained Mosquito continues to battle for his life at Veterinary Associates in Takanini.

The five-year-old son of Golan fell ill on the way to Ellerslie on Saturday, suffering severe colic.

"It was decided today that he needed an operation," said an emotional Donna Logan.

"He went into surgery this morning and they found a tumour obstructing his intestine. The tumour was very close to his aorta but they have managed to get it out."

Vets have told Logan that Mosquito has a 50-60% chance of surviving.

NZ Racing Desk

https://www.nzracing.co.nz/News/1231...-Survival.aspx

[Arletta]

I'm a big fan of his too.. hope he pulls through.

[my miss storm cat]

Cannot be upset at The Hombre's run cause wow, well worth it to see Antonio Lombardo FINALLY win one!

Outstanding!

edit - Will finish catching up and watch Touche, Lauren Tate, Nashville et al later!

[_ed_]

Yeah, poor Mosquito. Really hope he makes it. Just an awesome horse.

Great racing yesterday! Yeah, Antonio was brilliant - 33-1 odds, would you believe? Just shows how long it's been since he last won one, I guess!

[_ed_]

BLIZZARD
gelding
Any Suggestion – Deune


Owner: McVean Racing Ltd, A Moore, C & L Betts, A Gore, D & P Fullerton, W A & N M Bishop
Trainer: Jeff McVean (Leica Guv 2001) & Emma-Lee Browne
Rider: Opie Bosson (no Derby wins)

$35,000 purchase at the National Yearling Sale.

(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 10:1-2-0

Stakes races:
2nd Championship Stakes (G2)
6th Waikato Guineas (G2)
7th Avondale Guineas (G2)

Finished powerfully into second place, just a head behind Show The World, in the G2 Championship Stakes on Jan 1. His last two races haven’t been as good – beaten by 5.1 lengths and 7.6 lengths – but the way he finishes seems like he’s got the stamina to still be going strongly at the end of the gruelling 2400m of the Derby. He may not have the class of some of the others, but he could outlast them. It’s hard to see him winning, but he could definitely place.

Odds: opened at 40-1; now 17-1.



DELAGO’S SECRET
gelding
Encosta de Lago – Divine Secret


Owner: R S Baulcomb & J B Struthers (no Derby wins)
Trainer: Roger James (Tidal Light 1986, Roysyn 1995, Zonda 1997, Hades 1999, Silent Achiever 2012)
Rider: NOT CONFIRMED

$180,000 purchase at the National Yearling Sale.

(Starts:1st-2nd-3rd): 7:2-1-1

Stakes races:
9th Avondale Guineas (G2)

The definition of a late-developer. This guy was a maiden until Jan 17. He added a second win on the Waikato Sprint undercard on Feb 8, propelling him into the top 18 and into a whole lot of fans’ lists of Derby picks. His reputation was dented the following week when he finished ninth, 8.4 lengths behind Puccini, in the Avondale Guineas. But he should possibly be forgiven for that failure. Five-time Derby-winning trainer Roger James usually spaces his horses’ races out, and agonised over the decision to run this gelding twice in a week. But he decided he needed to, because the horse needed a run around two turns before the Derby. That seven-day turnaround must have been a shock to the system for the horse, whose other races have been far more evenly spaced. Don’t be surprised if he runs a far better race in the Derby than he did in the Avondale Guineas. It’s worth noting, though, that Vinnie Colgan – who rode Delago’s Secret in his last two races – has opted to ride Stand Your Ground in the Derby.

Odds: opened at 80-1; now 20-1.