New Zealand Racing

[_ed_]

That's great news. Just in time for the 1000/2000 Guineas week down south, which starts on November 8.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by _ed_

That's great news. Just in time for the 1000/2000 Guineas week down south, which starts on November 8.

Bad thing is that we are only doing Friday meetings to start, I would like to talk to you about some of the horses/tracks at some point though. I know nothing about it.

[_ed_]

That's a bit disappointing. It means you'll get none of the city tracks, just some minor country races. Hopefully it will quickly become more extensive.

[_ed_]

Something I didn't think to ask (was only just out of bed, not the most alert), you meant Friday NZ time, right?

Friday US time would be Saturdays here, which would be slightly better quality racing. Stuff like both Guineas races, the big Wellington January meeting, then the Derby on Feb 28...

[_ed_]

Not much to report in NZ racing today...the two stakes races were won by Agamemnon (4 wins in 6 career starts now, nice horse) and O'Ceirin's Angel.

The highlight of the day for most NZ racing fans was seeing our boy Alamosa win a G1 in Melbourne.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Not much to report in NZ racing today...the two stakes races were won by Agamemnon (4 wins in 6 career starts now, nice horse) and O'Ceirin's Angel.

The highlight of the day for most NZ racing fans was seeing our boy Alamosa win a G1 in Melbourne.

Oh wow nice!

Didn't think he had a chance and just now catching up on results.

On to the Cox Plate?

[_ed_]

The trainer said probably not, they're thinking about the Emirates at Flemington instead.

Probably a good idea, I think he struggles going further than a mile.

[my miss storm cat]

Any idea where Izzat / Vital King finished yesterday ed?

Having trouble finding it!

[_ed_]

No good 8.9 lengths behind the winner.

They're not sure about his racing future at the moment.

[my miss storm cat]

Not good.

Thanks ed.

[_ed_]

We North Islanders don't usually give much respect to South Island horses but they've got a really nice horse at the moment, a son of Postponed called Moveovr. He's 4-for-4 after winning their main prep race for the 2000 Guineas and he looks like a real contender in the big one this year (the 2000 Guineas is run on their island, so I guess it's fair!)

Here's a replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXTHpsIe1wc

[_ed_]

Couple of real nice performances today, both from Roger James. His stable is so stacked at the moment.

La Etoile was the first, hit the lead early in the stretch and won being eased by 5 - I reckon she's good enough for the 1000 Guineas, but that's only 2 weeks away now so they're going to struggle to get the earnings to get her in.

Then a boy called Jungle Boots came out in his debut and came from last place to win by 2. He was going so fast the caller George Simon cracked up laughing when he suddenly appeared! Derby.

Couple of nice young horses to look out for.

[magic_idol]

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=ZdVHZwI8pcA

[_ed_]

Haha, awesome.

[_ed_]

It's Labour Day weekend, so 3 awesome days of racing ahead. It's the last preps for the 2000 Guineas in Northern, Central and Southern NZ.

Saturday is Central - the Wellington Guineas at Trentham. Featuring the outstanding filly Juice, as well as Minstrel Court, Perky Parrot, All In Brawl and Santorielli.

Sunday is Southern - Canterbury Stakes at Riccarton Park, same track as the 2000 Guineas. So Hawke's Bay Guineas winner Tell A Tale has gone down early to have a look at the track. Should win this race, especially since the best Southern 3yo Moveovr is skipping the race.

And it's the North on Monday - Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa. 2 undefeated horses - Kildonan and Islington Bay. Also Altered Image. Best race of the weekend.

[_ed_]

It was a big day at Trentham today, but the weather was terrible so it was a really bad track.

The racing was still good though.

First up was the Wellesley Stakes, the first stakes race for 2yos. Hollows looks a very nice colt, 2-for-2 now and Wheeler rates him highly.

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-R6nACJzB0


Then the Wellington Guineas, a race that is usually a major prep for the 2000 Guineas but so many horses skipped it this time because of the track and a lot of the horses that did run struggled in the ground (Juice, Minstrel Court, The Diamond Knight to name a few).

But you shouldn't take anything away from the filly Skirmish, who beat the boys and beat them well. She's heading for the 1000 Guineas now and is a serious chance in that.

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guyuuvsuzoI


Then the G1 Captain Cook, again the race was badly damaged by the weather with lots of good horses pulling out and Fritzy Boy toiling in the slop in coming 5th. But it was so good to see the old bloke Dezigna finally win a G1 after finishing 2nd or 3rd in 9 G1s before! I understand they might retire him now, nice way to go out if they do.

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFomQ0uOFNM

Pretty good day overall, despite the weather. 2 weeks til Guineas week!

[_ed_]

Tell A Tale only just got up in the Canterbury Stakes, but it was still an impressive effort - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt6ir1K9XuU

[_ed_]

I was wrong to write off Fully Fledged after a couple of bad efforts. He was huge today in the Sarten Memorial, against the best 3yo field all year. Altered Image 2nd, Kildonan 3rd.

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKiCcMA2n-Y

I think he could probably get a mile, so he's a big chance in the 2000 Guineas.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

I was wrong to write off Fully Fledged after a couple of bad efforts. He was huge today in the Sarten Memorial, against the best 3yo field all year. Altered Image 2nd, Kildonan 3rd.

Replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKiCcMA2n-Y

I think he could probably get a mile, so he's a big chance in the 2000 Guineas.

Thanks for the link!

Looking GOOD!

[_ed_]

Guineas week starts tomorrow in Christchurch! And I'm going there for a great week of racing and drinking, flying down there tonight.

Tomorrow is 1000 Guineas day...

Race 5
Pegasus Stakes
1000m

1 21181 Our Umaga 2 104 58.0 Kelly Myers (a) Bill Thurlow, Waverley
2 8102X Pushy Too 11 103 57.5 Chris Johnson Steven Woodsford, Balcairn
3 X7506 Clifton Prince 3 102 57.0 Andrew Calder Peter McKay, Matamata
4 118X4 O'Cartier 8 101 56.5 Noel Harris John & Karen Parsons, Balcairn
5 11X44 Volscar 12 100 56.0 Jason Waddell Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
6 134X2 Zeddane 7 93 54.0 David Walsh Michael Pitman, Yaldhurst, Riccarton
7 1316X Thistle 1 92 53.5 Darryl Bradley Steven Prince, Wingatui
8 27X20 Squall 9 88 53.0 Ashlee Mundy Mark Walker, Rangiora
9 11X07 All My Colours (AUS) 4 82 52.5 Scratching Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
10 0X123 Turf Fire 10 77 52.0 Kylie Williams Michael Daly, Washdyke
11 7X923 Our Lily Belle 5 75 52.0 Craig Grylls (a) Jan Hay, Ashburton
12 73314 Please Ya Self 6 74 52.0 Maria Hayston Gary Trusttum, Kingsdown

Nice field, one of my old favs is in there - Clifton Prince. He won this race last year. He's 7 now but still looks like he's loving racing (his recent form has been in really tough fields so doesn't look that great), hope he can go another big race tomorrow.


Race 7
1000 Guineas (G1)
1 1X116 Juice 1 84 56.0 Leith Innes John Wheeler, New Plymouth
2 1X221 Daffodil 3 79 56.0 Hayden Tinsley Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North
3 2411 Skirmish 12 78 56.0 Robert Hannam Adrian Bull, Hunterville
4 X8416 Awesome Planet (AUS) 14 77 56.0 Darryl Bradley Graeme Rogerson, Scott Lucock & Roydon Bergerson, Tuhikaramea, Palm Nth
5 11X86 Te Akau Coup 5 74 56.0 Noel Harris Mark Walker, Matamata, Rangiora
6 16X02 Bellalini 9 72 56.0 David Walsh Andrew Scott, Matamata
7 5X422 Glamorous Girl 10 70 56.0 Gavin McKeon Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
8 391 Addicted 6 69 56.0 Chris Johnson Guy Lowry, Hastings
9 4137 Elusive Order 15 69 56.0 David Walker Robert Priscott, Te Awamutu
10 02331 Polly Rocket 11 69 56.0 Renee Fraser Paul Harris, Rangiora
11 1652 Sub Prime 2 69 56.0 Kelly Myers (a) Jim Collett, Matamata
12 9X441 Ekstreme 7 68 56.0 Craig Grylls (a) Bryce Revell, New Plymouth
13 9X21 La Etoile 16 68 56.0 Andrew Calder Roger James & Paul Mirabelli, Cambridge
14 6X723 Platinum Zana (AUS) 4 68 56.0 Jason Waddell Lisa Latta, Awapuni
15 13989 Full Pitch 8 67 56.0 Ashlee Mundy Paul Harris, Rangiora
16 9453 Inferno 13 59 56.0 Kylie Williams Brian & Shane Anderton, Wingatui

Most people are saying it's Juice v Daffodil, and I'd love to see those two finish first and second. But there are so many nice fillies here, like Skirmish, Awesome Planet, Glamorous Girl, Te Akau Coup, Addicted, La Etoile...should be awesome.


Race 9
Metropolitan Trophy (G3)

1 7X003 Spin Around (AUS) 7 104 58.0 Gavin McKeon Steven Cooper, Ardmore
2 X6624 Nanjara 6 94 54.5 Darryl Bradley Lisa Latta, Awapuni
3 11372 Quantum Dude 5 94 54.5 Jason Waddell Paul Harris, Rangiora
4 5X354 Le Alto 10 93 54.5 Craig Grylls (a) Neill Ridley, Burnham
5 87351 Il Bacaro 3 90 53.5 Trudy Thornton Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
6 X8963 Of The Essence 11 88 53.0 Jay Misbah (a) Brian & Shane Anderton, Wingatui
7 2X627 Stand Tall 8 88 53.0 Paul Taylor John Wheeler, New Plymouth
8 32144 Tutusafore 4 86 52.5 David Walsh Paul Harris, Rangiora
9 4X454 Halls 2 80 52.0 Robert Hannam David Haworth, Foxton
10 33411 Senorita Smiles 9 80 52.0 Ashlee Mundy Paul Reid & Melanie Cooper, Waverley
11 35836 Gaucho 1 72 52.0 Kelly Myers (a) Kevin Hughes, Riccarton Park

Spin Around has a big weight, but I think he'll go well.


Not sure if I'll make it to an internet cafe during the week, so I'll quickly mention the other days. Wednesday is the Coupland Mile (including Fritzy Boy and Mufhasa!), and the second Saturday is the $1 million 2000 Guineas, with Fully Fledged, Altered Image, Kildonan, Moveovr, Tell A Tale and Il Quello Veloce.