Strong Pace Needed For November Rain
- Thursday, 23 December 2010 05:15
Richard Collett thinks November Rain should get the strong pace she needs in Group One company in Sunday's Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie.
November Rain has come as close as any horse to becoming the trainer's first Group One winner in 23 years of trying, running seconds in the New Zealand Oaks (beaten a short head) and the Easter Handicap.
The Stravinsky mare tends to get back early and Collett said she would need some speed on, but he was confident she would get it.
"In a 2000-metre race at Ellerslie with 14 in it, with a short run to the first corner, at Group One level, there's going to be pressure and it seems to suit her best when they race with a bit more pressure," Collett said.
"I can see that there's going to be a fair bit of speed there, there's horses that like to roll along.
"It's a capacity field and there's going to be a lot of horses wanting to get to a position early."
November Rain comes to the race after a storming victory in a Group Two 1600m race at Te Rapa on December 11, achieved despite being blocked early in the straight.
She once again faces weight-for-age conditions on Sunday but the field is much hotter with proven weight-for-age performers Ginga Dude, Red Ruler and Vosne Romanee heading the field.
"It's the best of what's around at the moment. The top three are the yardsticks," Collett said.
"But I feel we're in the top four chances."
Jason Collett, who was aboard November Rain for the first time last start, retains the ride.
November Rain was being kept safe by TAB bookmakers at $8 on Thursday.
Favourite at $3.50 was last year's runner-up Red Ruler who shook off some ordinary spring form in Melbourne to win a sprint fresh at Pukekohe on December 1 and followed that with a fourth under 62kg at Te Rapa.
Second favourite at $5 is Ginga Dude who is having his first race since a rather more successful Australian campaign than that of Red Ruler.
Ginga Dude easily won the Coongy Handicap and ran third to So You Think in the Mackinnon Stakes, and would be hard to beat if he replicates that form.
Michael Walker is back across the Tasman to take the mount.
Red Ruler's conqueror last year, reigning Horse of the Year Vosne Romanee, put up his best performance of the season with a strong-finishing eighth to We Can Say It Now in the Group One Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) and would be a strong chance if he can find last season's form.
