New Zealand Racing, 2009-10

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

It's a good name! And yeah, I could see him winning a nice race somewhere.

Big news:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/racing/new...ectid=10628101

Katie.
Feel sorry for Michael though. But he gets Imabayboy.

Oh wow huge news but yeah I feel bad too...

Very rushed, will read again later but hey I'm glad she's going to the Derby!!!!!

[_ed_]

TIME KEEPER

3 c Stravinsky - Organdy
20 starts - 1 win, 6 thirds
Odds: 30-1

Replays:
Best: Great Northern Guineas (3rd): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDufBBwx5Ig
Last start: Championship Stakes (4th): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_xJ_UH7rgI

+ Keeps running amazing races against the best 3yos at huge odds - 3rd in the Wanganui Guineas, Great Northern Guineas and Karaka Mile and 4th in the Championship Stakes
+ Has won over 2100m, so should be fine at the distance

- 1 win from 20 starts. Come on. No horse can win the Derby with that kind of record...right?
- Trained by the same guy who trains poor old Sir Slick

Verdict: His record has probably been damaged by the fact that, like Sir Slick, he's sometimes forced to race when he's not at peak fitness and form. He's surprised me a few times with very very good performances in some of our best 3yo races so far, but I still don't think he's quite good enough to do it again in the Derby.

Not many Derby winners finish outside the top four 12 times in their career before the Derby!

He obviously has a lot of ability though. I wish he'd been looked after by a better trainer.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

- Trained by the same guy who trains poor old Sir Slick

He obviously has a lot of ability though. I wish he'd been looked after by a better trainer.

I really wish this guy well...( and an eventual trainer switch).

These are great, ed. Thanks for taking the time to put these profiles together and for posting them one at a time which makes it more fun (I think so anyway. Instead of being overwhelmed I like looking foreward to these and taking my time watching their replays, etc.).

[_ed_]

It's no trouble, I enjoy doing it.

MARTIAL ART

3 g Tiger Hill - Kwan
7 starts - 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third
Trainer: Mark Walker
Odds: 60-1

Replays:

Best: Karaka Mile (2nd): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EQ_bdR-meI
Last start: Championship Stakes (7th): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_xJ_UH7rgI

+ Has proven his ability against the best 3yos
+ Last start 7th was better than it sounds
+ Likely to be ridden by Vinnie Colgan, who has won the Derby 4 times.

- Inconsistent
- Some doubt about the distance

Verdict: I think this is one of the better longshots in the race. He was one of the favourites when the first Derby odds came out after some impressive wins against low class opposition. He's failed to live up to that promise, but his Karaka Mile run was amazing and he was half a length behind Zarzuela in the Guineas Prelude. I think people have forgotten him too quickly.

[_ed_]

Another one now, since I have friends staying with me for the weekend, so it might be a couple of days until I can do any more...

JUNGLE JUICE

3 f Jungle Pocket - Shadow Ray
9 starts - 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds
Trainer: Donna, Dean Logan & Chris Gibbs
Odds: 60-1

Replays:
Bonecrusher Stakes (1st): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFCpKz_orIk
Waikato Guineas (3rd): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJMqU75285M

I went for the Waikato since you've probably watched the Championship Stakes enough! She hardly shows up in that replay anyway - goes to the back and doesn't make up much ground, finishing 13th.

+ Has beaten the boys at stakes level on this track
+ Big run in the Waikato Guineas two starts back
+ Noel Harris is one of the best big-race jockeys in NZ

- Very poor in the Championship Stakes
- Hasn't won since the Bonecrusher Stakes in September
- Her bad performances seem to be far more frequent than her good ones

Verdict: On her day, she can be highly competitive against the very best. But that seems to happen rarely. She has the ability to make her presence felt in this Derby, but her performances so far suggest she's more likely to run poorly than well.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

I went for the Waikato since you've probably watched the Championship Stakes enough! She hardly shows up in that replay anyway - goes to the back and doesn't make up much ground, finishing 13th.

Yeah I was going to say I can never watch that one enough and why do I only vaguely remember her name!

Her I've heard of at least, Martial Art is a new one (to me) or there are just so many that I'm getting confused haha!

* * *

A (VERY ) nice bit of news.

On The Man...

http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/n....aspx?id=45422

[_ed_]

That was a great performance! I'll post replays of that race, Banchee's amazing G2 win and today's awesome G1 soon.

But first, another Derby horse...

HANDSOME ZULU

3 g Handsome Ransom - Bionic Eagle
8 starts - 1 win, 3 seconds
Trainer: John Sargent
Odds: 14-1

Replays:
Best: Wellington Stakes (2nd): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcezz7ngkrY
Last start: 3yo & 4yo Handicap (4th): http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xce...zulu-4th_sport

+ Excellent performances in G1 Levin Classic (6th) and G3 Wellington Stakes (2nd)
+ The way he finished over 1600m in the Wellington Stakes suggested he'll stretch out over more distance easily
+ Sargent/Du Plessis team in outstanding form this summer

- Although unlucky last start, you would like a horse to go into the Derby with stronger last-start form than a fourth in a minor handicap (but that race was won by the G1-placed Juice)
- Just one win from eight starts

Verdict: Seems to be improving all the time and will probably be peaking on Derby day. But with less winning form than many of his hugely talented rivals in the Derby and an uninspiring performance last start, there are others that appeal more in what looks like an amazing Derby field.