New Zealand Racing, 2012-13

[_ed_]

Oh, interesting. Well, it's good that they're thinking of the horse and his physical developent, but it is a shame - he would have been in my top three picks for sure.

Derby odds:
Choice Bro 14
Castlzeberg 5
Zinko 26
Deane Martin 14
Weissmuller 16
Addictive Habit 50
King Kamada 26
Solar Eclipse 60
Corporal Lincoln 60
Alert 14
Dubai Shuffle 26
Saint Kitt 80
Celtic Chief 31
The Grinner 30
Fix 9
Habibi 2.80f
Soriano 18
Kidwelly 30

[_ed_]

And here are some of the more interesting probables for the other big races later in the week.

G1 Auckland Cup (Wed)
Sangster
Annie Higgins
Chaparrone
Spiro
Blood Brotha
My Scotsgrey
Single Minded


G3 Sunline Vase (Wed)
Abidewithme
Atacama
Costume
More Than Sacred
Aurora Lights
Ray's Girl


G3 Westbury Classic (Wed)
Xanadu
Planet Rock
Fazzle


G1 Diamond Stakes (Sat)
Ruud Awakening
Bounding


G1 NZ Stakes (Sat)
Veyron
Ocean Park
Artistic


G3 Mr Tiz Trophy (Sat)
Rollout The Carpet

[_ed_]

Derby jockeys who have won it before:

JONATHAN RIDDELL (Choice Bro) – Jimmy Choux 2011

MICHAEL WALKER (Weissmuller) – Military Move 2010

VINNIE COLGAN (Habibi) – Redoute’s Dancer 2007, Helene Vitality 1999, Zonda 1997, Roysyn 1995 (equal record for most NZ Derby wins by a jockey)

MICHAEL COLEMAN (Kidwelly) – Xcellent 2004, Cut The Cake 2003

NOEL HARRIS (King Kamada) – Hail 2000

[my miss storm cat]

Crazy odds on Zinko, didn't realize who that was abord Xcellent (I know... how did I not know that?! Duh.), and whoa those are looking like some fields!

Every day I'm overwhelmed and you've just added to it!

Easy for me to sit here doing nothing and ask you BUT... The Grinner? Can you profile him when and if you have the time?

Thanks ed!

[_ed_]

Quick profiles of The Grinner and the rest of the field...

ADDICTIVE HABIT
Trainer: Lee Somervell
3 g Colombia - Chasing The Habit
10 starts; 1 win, 4 seconds, 0 thirds
Good seconds to Habibi in two G2 races in December-January (here's a replay of one of them: http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but disappointing in his last two. Seems to prefer rain-affected tracks.


KING KAMADA
Trainer: Lisa Latta
3 g Shinko King - Marsanne
9 starts; 1 win, 2 seconds, 3 thirds
Stakes placed at Ellerslie over 2100m in December (http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but he hasn't really developed since then the way I thought he might. Really expected him to win his last couple of races if he was going to be a real Derby contender.


SOLAR ECLIPSE
Trainer: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson
3 c Iffraaj - Dance On The Moon
10 starts; 1 win, 0 seconds, 2 thirds
I really liked this horse at the time of his 3rd to Habibi in the Championship Stakes (http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but again, he hasn't done enough since then to really catch my eye.


CORPORAL LINCOLN
Trainer: Lisa Latter
3 g Fastnet Rock - Salsa
7 starts; 1 win, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
Well-bred, and a good maiden win three starts back before an OK ninth in the Karaka Mile. Needs to lift his game, though.


DUBAI SHUFFLE
Trainer: Gareth McRae & Andrew Clarken
3 g Dubai Destination - Musical Magic
4 starts; 1 win, 0 seconds, 1 third
Nice win at Ellerslie last start (http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), but that was just a maiden. Big step up here!


SAINT KITT
Trainer: Kelly Burne
3 g Keeper - Southern Cry
9 starts; 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds
He's keeps giving nice performances, but they've all been in much weaker company than this.


CELTIC CHIEF
Trauner: Shaune Ritchie
3 g Golan - Divine Proportion
5 starts; 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds
Caught the eye with his fast-finishing 5th in the Waikato Guineas (http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx), and he was OK when 6th in the Avondale Guineas too. If he finds another couple of lengths, he could cause a massive upset.


THE GRINNER
Trainer: Stephen McKee
3 g O'Reilly - The Grin (so a full-sister to dual G1 winner The Jewel, and G2 winners Star Affair and The One)
4 starts; 1 win, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Broke through for a maiden win last start, and it was an impressive performance (http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx). He's one of the best-bred horses in the field, and the distance should be no problem. But, like with Dubai Shuffle, it's a big step up from a maiden to the Derby.


KIDWELLY
Trainer: Michael Moroney & Chad Ormsby
3 f Dylan Thomas - Maakel
9 starts; 1 win, 1 second, 2 thirds
Trained by 3-time Derby winner Moroney (Great Command 1996, Cut The Cake 2003, Xcellent 2004), this filly has looked pretty good in some strong 3yo fillies company this season. But she just can't quite get past Fix, and I'm not sure she's ever going to be able to turn the tables on that filly. But the distance is definitely going to suit.

[_ed_]

Habibi! http://www.nzracing.co.nz/SystemTemp...ArticleID=5443

[my miss storm cat]

Good morning and happy Derby Day!

GOOD LUCK TO PINZAARA!

(... and The Hombre & Durham Town, Fix, Habibi, Zinko, Castlzeberg, Choice Bro, Lucky Country @ Hastings, shall I continue?).

Have a great time, ed!