New Zealand Racing, 2012-13

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It's hard for both of them with the big weights they have to carry, but I'm sure he'll make it hard for anyone to get past him, as he always does. He's one of the toughest and most determined horses of the last decade.

Ocean Park looks like a good chance in the Caulfield Stakes!

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And Ocean Park wins!

Mufhasa was a little bit disappointing. I thought he was ridden a bit further back in the field than he'd normally be - he's better on or near the lead all the way than having to pass horses in the stretch.

[my miss storm cat]

What happens next, ed? Where do they go?

Beautiful win by Ocean Park. How great!

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Mufhasa comes back to NZ for his 11th G1 win in the Captain Cook Stakes on December 8 - not sure if he'll have another race before then.

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Sarten Memorial on Monday. Last three winners have been Katie Lee, We Can Say It Now and Antonio Lombardo. And look at this field. There's no way this should only be a G3!

1 13X41 Warhorse 2 85 56.5 Matthew Cameron Jason Bridgman, Matamata
2 11X11 Sacred Falls 7 82 56.5 Leith Innes Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
3 12X96 Magic Shaft 9 81 56.5 Lisa Allpress John Sargent, Matamata
4 57X34 Travino 1 72 56.5 Opie Bosson Peter & Jacob McKay, Matamata
5 128X2 Rollout The Carpet 5 82 54.5 Mark Du Plessis Jeff McVean & Emma-Lee Browne, Cambridge
6 1X1 Pure Elegance 4 78 54.5 Jason Waddell Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari
7 15X14 Fix 8 77 54.5 Vinnie Colgan Ken & Bev Kelso, Matamata
8 X12X3 Waterford 6 72 54.5 Andrew Calder Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
9 12X5 Oasis Rose 3 65 54.5 Michael Coleman Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea

Two undefeated star 3yos, Sacred Falls and Pure Elegance. Also Warhorse, Rollout The Carpet, Fix... Incredible field.

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Sacred Falls wins again! 5-for-5.

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What a great day for NZ in Melbourne! Ocean Park wins the Cox Plate, and Silent Achiever shows the Australians what she can do as well. Amazing!

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NZ 2000 Guineas on Saturday! Can't wait to get down there again.

1 1X111 Sacred Falls 10 88 56.5 Leith Innes Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
2 3X416 Warhorse 5 84 56.5 Matthew Cameron Jason Bridgman, Matamata
3 3121 Neo 1 80 56.5 Lisa Allpress Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge
4 2X968 Magic Shaft 6 79 56.5 John Sargent, Matamata
5 424X2 Irish Rebel 11 76 56.5 Hayden Tinsley Jason Bridgman, Matamata
6 X7111 Mac Orla 2 75 56.5 Jonathan Riddell Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Cambridge
7 X1222 Southern Lord 8 75 56.5 Vinnie Colgan Alan Tait, Matamata
8 11X41 Platinum Kingdom 13 74 56.5 Lisa Latta, Awapuni
9 10X11 Sir Singo 3 72 56.5 Michael Pitman, Yaldhurst, Riccarton
10 10100 Macka's Back 9 68 56.5 Gary Alton, Cambridge
11 21322 Canny Franco 4 66 56.5 Jamie Bullard Terri Rae, Riccarton Park
12 X2154 Royale Crystal 7 63 56.5 Robert Hannam Kevin & Pam Hughes, Riccarton Park
13 12X52 Oasis Rose 12 65 54.5 Mark Du Plessis Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea


Sacred Falls is the hottest favourite in this race in a long time. I think everyone expects him to extend his undefeated record to six here.

[my miss storm cat]

Hope Warhorse is right behind him.

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And he was! Great effort by Warhorse.

Sacred Falls, though. Wow. He's something else. And his owner announced a $100,000 donation to the Christchurch earthquake recovery after the race.

I took these shots of Sacred Falls after the race...

[my miss storm cat]

Have not yet watched the replay or even looked at results but happy to hear he won, that Warhorse did well and very nice about the donation.

Fantastic pictures, ed. Thanks for posting them.

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Shuka second in another big race! Nashville JUST beat him in the Coupland Mile today.

[my miss storm cat]

Awww good for Shuka!

Hey I didn't know Mufhasa and Veyron were running tomorrow (today).

Where is Tauranga?

[my miss storm cat]

I don't blame poor Mufhasa for getting tired there at the end but oh, Veyron! What a brave one he is.

If he hadn't missed the start (and that was really worrisome to watch. I hate watching a race with my eyes practically closed thinking pleasebeokaypleasebeokay) he so would have won.

Very nice win of course but wow Veyron was awesome!

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That was a great race from both horses - and neither of them liked the wet track either.

Rollout The Carpet was such a brave winner of the G1 1000 Guineas - Waterford clearly got her head in front, but Rollout The Carpet wasn't gonna lose that one.

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Sorry for the lack of replies recently - I've been moving house.

Really happy with my new place. Can't believe the rent is so low, when this is the view out the living room window.

[my miss storm cat]

Looks fantastic! Congrats on your new place.

Anything good coming up this weekend?

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We have the G1 Levin Classic today. With the best 3yos injured or resting, it's come up a little bit weak.

1 1511 Touch Win 6 80 56.5 Vinnie Colgan Roger James, Cambridge
2 24X28 Irish Rebel 16 75 56.5 Matthew Cameron Jason Bridgman, Matamata
3 X4441 Sacred Star (AUS) 4 74 56.5 Leith Innes Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue, Cambridge
4 12227 Southern Lord 10 74 56.5 Kelly Myers Alan Tait, Matamata
5 X5851 Julinsky Prince 1 72 56.5 Jonathan Riddell Fraser Auret, Marton
6 11 Le Choix 7 72 56.5 Jason Waddell Michael Moroney & Chad Ormsby, Matamata
7 132 Zinko 3 72 56.5 Mark Du Plessis Moira Murdoch & Dominic Olson, Waiuku
8 8213 Batman 9 70 56.5 Lisa Allpress Sam Lennox, Waverley
9 13224 Canny Franco 11 69 56.5 Jamie Bullard Terri Rae, Riccarton Park
10 12276 Addictive Habit 14 67 56.5 Andrew Calder Lee Somervell, Cambridge
11 513 Big Iron 5 65 56.5 Noel Harris Tim & Margaret Carter, Cambridge
12 X0132 Coastal Express 15 73 54.5 Sam Spratt Karen Zimmerman, Otaki
13 X2151 Park Princess 12 70 54.5 Johnathon Parkes Fraser Auret, Marton
14 49246 Soriano 8 70 54.5 Opie Bosson Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
15 6X362 Pouri Chimes 13 67 54.5 Danielle Johnson Jeff McVean & Emma-Lee Browne, Cambridge
16 312 High Fashion 2 65 54.5 Hayden Tinsley Kevin Gray, Copper Belt Lodge, Palmerston North

Touch Win looks hugely talented, and I like Le Choix too.

Better Than Ever was meant to make his NZ debut on the undercard, but he's scratched.

[my miss storm cat]

I only know a few of these names.

Park Princess / Southern Lord (cause he likes being 2nd).

How long till we can see the Captain Cook field?

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It's next weekend, so we'll see the field on Wednesday.