Jimmy Choux Wins New Zealand Derby

Saturday, 05 March 2011 06:30

Short-priced favourite Jimmy Choux has lived up to his reputation to capture the Group One $NZ2.2 million New Zealand Derby at a rain-sodden Ellerslie in Auckland.

The Thorn Park colt, perfectly ridden by Jonathan Riddell, swept up the leaders as the field straightened for the run home on Saturday and gave none of the others a chance.

Some commentators had doubted Jimmy Choux's stamina but he ground down the field, easily holding off the challenges of second and third-placed Historian and On The Level to score an easy two-length win.

"He's something special," Riddell said.

The victory took Jimmy Choux's record to nine wins, three seconds and two thirds from 16 starts and earnings of more than $NZ2 million.

His Derby run was his first since he streeted the field in the Waikato Guineas a month ago.

The colt is trained by John Bary at Hastings.

Bakers Look To 3YOs For Group One Double

Friday, 11 February 2011 04:15

Bjorn and Murray Baker are looking to two three-year-olds to give themselves a chance of a Group One double at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Exciting filly We Can Say It Now resumes after a 10-week break in the Waikato Sprint (1400m), while New Zealand Derby contender Arakti will take on the older horses at weight-for-age for a second time this year in the Darci Brahma International (2000m).

We Can Say It Now established herself as New Zealand racing's newest star when winning the Levin Classic and Captain Cook Stakes back-to-back in late November and early December.

The Starcraft filly hasn't raced since routing her rivals by four lengths in the Captain Cook Stakes at weight-for-age on December 4 but her Cambridge co-trainer Bjorn Baker said she was ready for a top run.

"She had a short break after Trentham and we freshened her up a little, and we're extremely happy with how she is," Baker, who trains in partnership with his father Murray, said.

"Barrier eight is very good for her and though 1400 metres is not going to be her ultimate best distance, she's won at the trip on the track before."

Up against her is probably the hottest field of the year.

Her opponents include Wall Street, a triple Group One winner in the spring, Telegraph Handicap winner Mufhasa, top mares Katie Lee and Keep The Peace and the speedy Coup Align.

"It's a step up in class again but we could not be happier with her," Baker said.

The Baker stable has not shown any reluctance to take on top company with We Can Say It Now and all going well her next start after the Waikato Sprint will be the Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 5.

"Taking on the colts and geldings in Australia is a step up again but we think it's worth it," Baker said.

We Can Say It Now was $3.20 favourite with TAB bookmakers, just ahead of Wall Street ($4).

Arakti first took on weight-for-age company when running a fighting third to Veloce Bella, one of his opponents again on Saturday, in the Trentham Stakes (2400m) on January 22.

He then won a 2000m race at Ellerslie on January 30, accelerating smoothly against weaker opposition to win by 2-3/4 lengths.

"He's probably come on even more since then but it's a huge ask in this company," Baker said.

Also lining up for the Bakers in the Darci Brahma is English import Doctor Fremantle, who is having his second start for the stable.

The Sadler's Wells six-year-old was a dual Group Three winner in England and fourth in the Epsom Derby but did little for Australian trainer Lee Freedman when bought by an Australian syndicate and was transferred to the Bakers in December.

Trainers Look For Chinks In Jimmy Choux

Thursday, 03 March 2011 06:45

Like many trainers in the lead-up to Saturday's New Zealand Derby, Jason Bridgman is hoping Jimmy Choux will be found out by the 2400m trip - but he's not confident the colt will be.

Bridgman, who trains at Matamata for Te Akau Stables, saddles up Icepin and Encosta Diablo in the $NZ2.2 million Group One contest at Ellerslie and says both are fit and ready to run good races.

But he knows that on current form it will be hard to topple Jimmy Choux if the season's leading male three-year-old can stay 2400m.

The $2.80 favourite won the Group One 2000 Guineas (1600m) earlier this season and had no trouble stepping up from 1600m to 2000m when thrashing many of his Derby opponents in the Waikato Guineas in early February.

"We're all running for second if he runs to his game and runs it out," Bridgman said.

"There's no reason to think he won't get 2400 metres given his lead-up run. He ran a strong 2000 metres and if it rained he'd handle it up to a point as well."

Icepin shot into contention for the Derby with a decisive victory in the Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie on February 19 and is currently fourth favourite at $14.

"On form he's probably the second-best male three-year-old in the country and he should get the 2400 metres," Bridgman said.

"His biggest concern would be the weather forecast. If the rain comes, he's no hope on a wet track."

Sam Spratt, who hasn't ridden Icepin since his two-year-old days, takes the mount on Saturday.

Encosta Diablo's formline isn't the most compelling for a Derby candidate but he is well in the market at $16 and Bridgman says he's fit and well.

"He was running on well in the Avondale Guineas and Chris Johnson said it was a good run from a Derby point of view," Bridgman said.

"He will handle the wet, but the question for him is whether he's good enough."

Bridgman's best chance of toppling Jimmy Choux may have been if leading filly King's Rose had lined up, but the stable has stuck to its plan to aim at the New Zealand and AJC Australian Oaks and her run on Saturday will be in the Group Three Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings.

"We kept our options open for the Derby but we had to look at what was best for the filly, both this season and later in her career," he said.

"Her main goal is the (AJC) Australian Oaks."

Lynds Expects Wall Street To Run Well

Thursday, 10 February 2011 06:45

Trainer Jeff Lynds does not have any great expectations of Wall Street when he resumes in Saturday's Group One Waikato Sprint, but he should still run well.

Wall Street will be having his first run since a spring campaign which netted him three Group One races, the last coming in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) on the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival in November.

He faces a hot line-up on Saturday including Telegraph Handicap winner Mufhasa and exciting filly We Can Say It Now, but his class is such that he is rated the $4.40 second favourite by TAB bookies.

"It's going to be a high-class line-up, but that's all we've got, we can't start him off anywhere else. He'll improve with the run," Lynds said.

"I've got no great expectations, but the horse has always done his best and I'm quite certain that he'll run a good race."

Lynds said he was undecided what races Wall Street would target in the autumn but added that there were plenty of choices for a horse who excelled from 1400m to 2000m, particularly in Australia.

"We want to get him used to racing right-handed and I think we'll go to Sydney," he said.

"We haven't decided just what races we're going to race him in there as yet. He's got a nomination for the Doncaster, but there's plenty of good races he can race in over there."

Likely to accompany Wall Street to Australia is Booming who is aiming for his third consecutive Group One victory in Saturday's International Stakes (2000m).

Booming is in a rich vein of form, having taken out the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day and the Thorndon Mile in late January, and is the $3.50 favourite for the International Stakes.

Booming was second in the Auckland Cup (3200m) last year but he will have to carry 58.5kg in the race this year and Lynds said he could be aimed at weight-for-age races in Australia instead.

"He's in the Auckland Cup but a decision will be made on Saturday, how he races and what to do with him. He's alsogot a nomination for the BMW and the Australian Cup," he said.

Also starting in the International Stakes is last year's Horse of the Year Vosne Romanee who hasn't struck form yet this season.

"He's drawn the outside gate again. There should be an inquiry on that," Lynds joked.

"Without doubt he's as good as last season, he just has had no luck, that's all."

Picture: Quentin Lang

Interdoms Shift To Auckland After Quake

Wednesday, 02 March 2011 04:15

This year's InterDominions have been transferred from Christchurch's Addington Raceway to Auckland's Alexandra Park in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (The Met) made the decision to move the event, which starts on March 25 and runs until April 8, after talks with Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) and the Auckland Trotting Club.

"Everyone involved in the decision making was aware of the difficulties in moving the series," HRNZ chief executive Edward Rennell said.

"We are acutely aware of the human suffering and the impact this tragedy has had on all New Zealanders. While every endeavour has been made to retain the series in Christchurch, unfortunately with the state of the city and the repairs required to Addington Raceway, this is not feasible."

The Met chairman David Rankin said an engineering report revealed the public stand at Addington had some structural issues which could not be fixed in time for the event while there was also less significant damage to the Metropolitan Stand.

"The transfer to Auckland will to a large degree mitigate our financial losses. The Auckland Trotting Club, not wanting to take advantage of our plight, are allowing us to be there as a "tenant club" with no rental and contributing other net revenues to us as their way of supporting harness racing in Canterbury and the financial turmoil the earthquakes have created for us in Christchurch," he said.

"Practically, there was no other decision available to us, but nevertheless we feel strongly for the Canterbury trainers, drivers, owners, our members and the public who were looking forward to this event in Christchurch and gave us every encouragement to continue at all costs.

"The Met has had two very tough years financially and the financial implications of the business downturn and the earthquakes have needed careful management."

Some Australian trainers had threatened to turn their backs on the InterDominions if they were held in Christchurch.

The stakes for the pacers' final has been reduced to $NZ800,000 to ensure the viability of the event, while all the other races kept their existing purses.

Revised conditions for the series will be released on Thursday.

Other feature races such as the New Zealand Derby will be retained in Christchurch and raced on alternative dates yet to be determined.

Milo Bound For Sydney

Sunday, 06 February 2011 07:59

New Zealand three-year-old Milo is set to make the leap from racing in the South Island to the pressure cooker atmosphere of Sydney.

Trainer Michael Pitman revealed the Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 12 was on Milo's agenda after he won Saturday's Dunedin Guineas (1400m).

Borninthestates gave Pitman a feature double at the Wingatui meeting when he took out the Dunedin Gold Cup and will also be considered for a trip to Australia for the Sydney Cup.

Pitman is the current leader in the New Zealand trainers' premiership. He became the first South Island trainer in many decades to win the title in 2007-08.

The winner of four of his five starts, Milo has always impressed Pitman.

"I said before he went to the races that I reckon he's up with the best four or five horses I've trained," Pitman told NZPA.

"He had just been very, very impressive getting ready for racing."

Milo's owners John and Evelyn Carran turned down an offer of $150,000 before the horse raced but he was beaten into third at his first start at Wingatui on December 26.

Pitman said Milo was "flattened" three times in the first 400m of his debut and he took the unusual measure of lining up the horse twice more in quick succession so that his first three races came in nine days.

"When horses get knocked down at their first start, they do think about it," Pitman said.

"I had to get him over that and the only way was to go to the races and start winning. I just had to get him thinking this was a game he could win at. Horses have to learn to be winners."

Borninthestates has been a grand campaigner for Pitman with his record now standing at 77 starts for 16 wins and 21 placings.

He finished fifth in the Wellington Cup at his previous start after filling second in the Wellington Cup Prelude five days earlier on unsuitable wet tracks.

Those runs added to a disappointing week for Pitman after Coup Align, who requires firm footing, ran third in the $1 million Telegraph Handicap on an over-watered track.

"I walked away from Wellington a shattered man," Pitman said.

"I believe I was robbed the whole week."

The news for Pitman did not get any better when he learned Coup Align was being transferred to the Singapore stable of former New Zealand trainer Mark Walker.

Byrne To Ride Derby Hopeful At Ellerslie

Monday, 14 February 2011 03:45

Jim Byrne might be the rider of one of the early Golden Slipper favourites but he will have his eye on two rich staying purses when makes a surprise appearance at Ellerslie this week.

Brisbane-based Byrne has been lured to New Zealand on Saturday to test a lightly-raced High Chaparral galloper as a future Group One mount.

He will sacrifice Sydney rides for Patinack Farm to partner Sierra Nevada at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Byrne is the regular rider of Patinack's unbeaten filly Pane In The Glass, a $13 chance in Golden Slipper betting.

Sierra Nevada is at a more generous $31 quote to win the $NZ2.2 million New Zealand Derby but Byrne, on the advice of his manager Trevor Lanskey, is willing to gamble on the three-year-old's potential.

"The horse is owned by John Thompson who Jim has had a good association with but the fact he is by High Chaparral and is being set for the Derby suggests the trip might worth it," Lanskey said.

Lanskey said he once rejected the ride on another New Zealand three-year-old by High Chaparral when he was managing the late Stathi Katsidis and was loathe to make the same mistake again.

"Stathi was offered the ride on Monaco Consul in the Spring Champion Stakes but we passed it up because we didn't know anything about the horse," Lanskey said.

With Jay Ford in the saddle, Monaco Consul relished a rain-sodden Randwick track to win the Group One before Corey Brown was on board a month later when the colt won the 2009 Victoria Derby.

"I think we've all learned never to underestimate the progeny of High Chaparral, especially when they get to 2000 metres," Lanskey said.

Sierra Nevada is trained by Richard and Chris Otto and a positive run on Saturday is expected to confirm plans for the New Zealand Derby on March 5 ahead of an Australian campaign later this year to take in the Queensland Derby.

"The horse has won his last two starts and there is a bit of a wrap on him so it's definitely worth going over," Lanskey said.

Byrne, however, has stressed his commitment to Pane In The Glass will take priority if there is a clash in racing schedules.

Pane In The Glass is expected to make her bid for a Golden Slipper berth in the Sweet Embrace Stakes at Warwick Farm on March 12.

"If there happened to be a clash, we've told Richard Otto Pane In The Glass comes first but it looks as if Jim will be right to ride in the (New Zealand) Derby," Lanskey said."

Ellis Over Budget On Top Lot

Tuesday, 01 February 2011 06:59

Waikato syndicator David Ellis has spent more than he intended to secure the most expensive lot at the Premier Yearling Sale in Karaka on Tuesday.

Ellis, of Te Akau Stables, paid $NZ875,000 for a Red Ransom-Nureyev's Girl colt, a half-brother to Te Akau's 1000 Guineas winner King's Rose.

"I went over my budget to get him," Ellis, who bought him on behalf of a syndicate of New Zealand businessmen, said.

"But I think he's a better type than King's Rose was at the same stage."

The $875,000 purchase topped the previous high of $800,000, paid for a Danehill Dancer colt Ellis bought on Monday and a Zabeel-Jesmonds Gift filly bought by British agent Adrian Nicoll on behalf of an Australian client.

The Nureyev's Girl colt will be one of three Ellis' syndicate will race, the others being the Danehill Dancer colt and an O'Reilly-Chimeara colt bought for $480,000 yesterday.

Persistence paid off for Nicoll with the Jesmonds Gift filly after what had been a frustrating day.

"That's the third one I've bought - the other two were much cheaper - but I've been underbidder on six today. I was getting a bit pissed off," he said.

Nicoll has previously bought the 1983 sale topper Trichelle, subsequently a Group One winner, and he was also underbidder on Darci Brahma who became a top racehorse and sire.

"She's a great individual and a great walker, with marvellous head and ears," Nicoll said.

Jesmonds Gift is from the family of top performers Canny Lass and Canny Lad and of Sepoy, the early favourite for this year's Blue Diamond Stakes.

Nicoll said the back pedigree was fantastic but that the filly, bought for an unnamed client and likely to be trained in Sydney, would need to win a Group race to improve her value.

The filly helped put Cambridge Stud into position to be leading vendor for the 30th year in succession.

Sir Patrick Hogan's stud was behind Windsor Park Stud going into Tuesday's session when it had several big sellers.

Australian trainer Mark Kavanagh paid $700,000 for a Zabeel-Dane Dancer filly and three lots later another Australian trainer, Peter Moody, paid $675,000 for a Zabeel-Danger Point colt.

Windsor Park had a good seller of its own as well, selling a High Chaparral-Egoli Lass colt to Cambridge bloodstock agent Gary Carvell for $625,000.

Mufhasa Could Be Melbourne Bound

Sunday, 13 February 2011 06:59

New Zealand star Mufhasa could be headed to Melbourne and a clash with Typhoon Tracy and More Joyous in the Futurity Stakes.

The other option is to stay home and contest the Haunui Farm Weight-For-Age in Otaki on the same day, February 26.

The six-year-old is no stranger to Australia where he races as King Mufhasa and has run third in the past two runnings of the Group One George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.

Trainer Stephen McKee will weigh up the options for Mufhasa following his win in Saturday's Waikato Sprint (1400m).

"He was the race-fit horse in the race and with the fast speed in front it really played into his hands," McKee said.

The win was arguably the best of Mufhasa's five Group One victories given the strength of the opposition, even considering his fitness advantage.

He did it in typical fashion, putting himself in touch with the leaders from the start and sprinting away in the straight from Wall Street and Keep The Peace.

Mufhasa had an off-season by his standards in 2009-10 with his only Group One win coming in the Otaki-Maori Weight-For-Age (1600m).

"He doesn't have the best feet and that didn't help him last season, though he also had draws and track conditions against him at times," McKee said.

"But he's back in the form he showed as a four-year-old. Not many horses win five Group Ones."

Wall Street, a four-time Group One winner, found the line well given the speed and the fact it was his first start since his Emirates Stakes win at Flemington in November.

"He was off the bit most of the way and was struggling to stay in touch so to make ground the way he did was very good. He'll improve with that," jockey Michael Coleman said.

Trainer Shaune Ritchie was delighted with Keep The Peace, who was the only runner to make ground from the rear.

"She's being prepared to be a stayer this preparation and it was a great run," he said of the mare, whose aims this campaign include the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and the BMW (2400m), both Group One weight-for-age features in Sydney.

Coup Align, who had set the pace, held on to fourth ahead of We Can Say It Now who couldn't accelerate with the leaders when they moved 500 metres from home but battled on very well after that.

We Can Say It Now's targets include the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington next month.

Cummings Buys Up At Karaka

Monday, 31 January 2011 07:15

Bart Cummings has returned to New Zealand in search of another so You Think, buying two colts by the champion's sire High Chaparral on the first day of the Premier yearling sale at Karaka.

Cummings bought a colt out of O'Reilly mare A Real Princess for $NZ470,000 ($A366,371) and a colt out of Cadell for $NZ300,000.

Last year Coolmore paid a reported $30 million for a half share in So You Think who was a $110,000 purchase at Karaka three years ago and due to start racing in Europe in a few months.

"I only bought one High Chaparral before today and he turned out pretty good, he won a couple of Cox Plates," Cummings said.

Te Akau Stud's David Ellis paid Monday's top price of $800,000 for a Danehill Dancer colt out of the Zabeel mare Ballycairn on what was generally a patchy day.

"We've won Guineas races at Riccarton five times in the last six years and I would love to win one of them again with him and then take on the Australians," Ellis said.

"I thought he was an absolute quality colt, one of three in the sale that I thought were stunning colts.

"Danehill Dancer is one of very few sires leaving top horses in both hemispheres and if we can win a Group One with this colt I can really see him standing in the northern hemisphere."

Ellis later spent $480,000 on an O'Reilly-Chimeara colt from the Pencarrow Stud draft.

The day started with a bang when the first yearling through the ring, a colt by High Chaparral out of Queen Caelia, sold for $600,000, but it seemed to lull after that before picking up later in the day.

The Queen Caelia colt was bought by Victorian property developer Mark Casey and his father-in-law Doug McLennan.

"It was either him or a new Ferrari," Casey said.

"We thought he was the best High Chaparral in the sale and we would rather have the one we wanted for $600,000 rather than two for $300,000."

High Chaparral currently leads the Australian sires' premiership thanks to the deeds of Descarado, Shoot Out and So You Think.

The highest-priced filly was a Zabeel-Cat Shmea filly from the Curraghmore Stud draft sold for $550,000.

A half-sister to Australian group one sprinter Velocitea, she was bought by Australian agent Rick Connolly on behalf of Patinack Farm.

A Zabeel colt out of champion New Zealand racemare Seachange was bought trainer Graeme Rogerson on behalf of Lloyd Williams for $500,000.