The beginning of 2018 has started off a lot slower on the racing front than we had hoped with only limited runners due to a number of setbacks to our racing team.
To date we have only started four horses in January with two place getters. Next week we plan to line up three competitive chances at Avondale and another runner locally at Counties on Friday.
Due to race at Avondale on the 24th are Time Lord who was a big finisher late for 3rd over 1600m at Ruakaka on the 6th January. He cleared the gates slowly but once balanced late in the straight he flew home to finish 1.5 lengths from the winner. He will step out again over 1600m and has trained on well since.
Azaboy was brave in his 1400m race the same day, sticking on well for 6th after being caught wide throughout. He will step up to a 1600m maiden on Wednesday and will race in blinkers for the first time as he was quite field shy at Ruakaka in his last outing.
Our final runner at Avondale will be Moki, he will step out in a 1200m maiden. He was given an easy 1000m trial at Cambridge last week on the back of a steady build up since returning from Australia. All his previous racing has been in Sydney where he ran up a number of placings in provincial company. The recent trial has sharpened his fitness nicely. From barrier 11 over 1200m he will be ridden patiently early and is expected to be strong over the final stages.
Top Prospect will line up again at Counties on Friday over 2100m after a big effort to finish 2nd over 2200m last Sunday in the $100K Karaka million bonus race at Ellerslie. It was his first start beyond 1600m and after missing a planned lead up race on New Year’s Day with the cancellation of the last race he ran a brave race being light on mileage going into the staying race.
Swissta was also pencilled in for the Ellerslie race however he has been on the easy list for the past fortnight with a strained hamstring. There is little likelihood of him back racing until mid-February at soonest.
Untamed Diamond has also had a muscle issue over the past week following a gallop and will miss a planned start on Karaka Million day, she had been coming to hand very well prior to this setback which is very disappointing for her connections.
Selfie was honest when finishing 5th at Ellerslie late in December again struggling to cope with the very firm surface. We spelled him following that outing and he will resume training next week. Cinematic has also been given three weeks spell after a battling effort in the Dunstan Final over 1500m on Boxing Day. She had been on a quick back up after a 2nd placing at the same venue nine days prior. She resumed training this week along with Gottgetmywoohoo who has had a good five week spell.
Alternative Fact was disappointing in the Royal Stakes over 2000m on New Year’s Day making little ground over the final stages after getting a lovely trip in the race. She has galloped more recently wearing a tongue tie and could travel south to Taranaki on Saturday 4th February for a listed 3yo filly’s 1800m race.
Artic Storm missed a planned race at Thames earlier this month after the abandonment of the meeting. He has been sharper with recent gallops and will resume race day shortly. Hvar who went a promising race in his debut over 1400m in December has been ticking over steadily in the stable after a minor setback. The Zed 3yo will be better suited once he steps up over 1600m.
Confederacy was given a 1000m trial at Cambridge early in January and won impressively. He win was so impressive he quickly attracted the interest of bloodstock agents and it is likely he could end up racing in Hong Kong.
Mercy Hill has recently stepped up to stronger work and will trial in February before resuming race day. At a similar stage is the 2yo Swiss Ace – Musically gelding, he has matured recently and we are looking forward to him racing as a late two year old.
Tiger Silk & Massachusetts, our most forward 2yos bypassed a maiden race late in December. Massachusetts will have an 800m jump out locally on the 30th before making her race day debut while Tiger Silk should be forward enough to have a jump out late in February before her debut.
Sepella and the 2yo unnamed Swiss Ace- Uberfrau filly have both completed five weeks back in the stable and are due to step up their workload next week. The pair showed good promise in the spring and we expect both to be at trialling stage late in February.
A newcomer to the stable this week from Australia is a 2yo by Helmut out of Pteryon. He was a fast timed product of the Magic Millions Ready to run sale in September. He has spelled since, after being gelded and is a lovely type.
Due to resume this week are Gutsy Gussie after a six week spell along with the Duke of Marmalade – Midnight Senorita filly and 2yo filly Rip Van Winkle – Mary Agnes.
Finally Ventura will re-join the racing team in February following a lengthy spell to allow a hoof split to grow out. She has strengthened a lot while spelling and should have a good winter.
To date we have only started four horses in January with two place getters. Next week we plan to line up three competitive chances at Avondale and another runner locally at Counties on Friday.
Due to race at Avondale on the 24th are Time Lord who was a big finisher late for 3rd over 1600m at Ruakaka on the 6th January. He cleared the gates slowly but once balanced late in the straight he flew home to finish 1.5 lengths from the winner. He will step out again over 1600m and has trained on well since.
Azaboy was brave in his 1400m race the same day, sticking on well for 6th after being caught wide throughout. He will step up to a 1600m maiden on Wednesday and will race in blinkers for the first time as he was quite field shy at Ruakaka in his last outing.
Our final runner at Avondale will be Moki, he will step out in a 1200m maiden. He was given an easy 1000m trial at Cambridge last week on the back of a steady build up since returning from Australia. All his previous racing has been in Sydney where he ran up a number of placings in provincial company. The recent trial has sharpened his fitness nicely. From barrier 11 over 1200m he will be ridden patiently early and is expected to be strong over the final stages.
Top Prospect will line up again at Counties on Friday over 2100m after a big effort to finish 2nd over 2200m last Sunday in the $100K Karaka million bonus race at Ellerslie. It was his first start beyond 1600m and after missing a planned lead up race on New Year’s Day with the cancellation of the last race he ran a brave race being light on mileage going into the staying race.
Swissta was also pencilled in for the Ellerslie race however he has been on the easy list for the past fortnight with a strained hamstring. There is little likelihood of him back racing until mid-February at soonest.
Untamed Diamond has also had a muscle issue over the past week following a gallop and will miss a planned start on Karaka Million day, she had been coming to hand very well prior to this setback which is very disappointing for her connections.
Selfie was honest when finishing 5th at Ellerslie late in December again struggling to cope with the very firm surface. We spelled him following that outing and he will resume training next week. Cinematic has also been given three weeks spell after a battling effort in the Dunstan Final over 1500m on Boxing Day. She had been on a quick back up after a 2nd placing at the same venue nine days prior. She resumed training this week along with Gottgetmywoohoo who has had a good five week spell.
Alternative Fact was disappointing in the Royal Stakes over 2000m on New Year’s Day making little ground over the final stages after getting a lovely trip in the race. She has galloped more recently wearing a tongue tie and could travel south to Taranaki on Saturday 4th February for a listed 3yo filly’s 1800m race.
Artic Storm missed a planned race at Thames earlier this month after the abandonment of the meeting. He has been sharper with recent gallops and will resume race day shortly. Hvar who went a promising race in his debut over 1400m in December has been ticking over steadily in the stable after a minor setback. The Zed 3yo will be better suited once he steps up over 1600m.
Confederacy was given a 1000m trial at Cambridge early in January and won impressively. He win was so impressive he quickly attracted the interest of bloodstock agents and it is likely he could end up racing in Hong Kong.
Mercy Hill has recently stepped up to stronger work and will trial in February before resuming race day. At a similar stage is the 2yo Swiss Ace – Musically gelding, he has matured recently and we are looking forward to him racing as a late two year old.
Tiger Silk & Massachusetts, our most forward 2yos bypassed a maiden race late in December. Massachusetts will have an 800m jump out locally on the 30th before making her race day debut while Tiger Silk should be forward enough to have a jump out late in February before her debut.
Sepella and the 2yo unnamed Swiss Ace- Uberfrau filly have both completed five weeks back in the stable and are due to step up their workload next week. The pair showed good promise in the spring and we expect both to be at trialling stage late in February.
A newcomer to the stable this week from Australia is a 2yo by Helmut out of Pteryon. He was a fast timed product of the Magic Millions Ready to run sale in September. He has spelled since, after being gelded and is a lovely type.
Due to resume this week are Gutsy Gussie after a six week spell along with the Duke of Marmalade – Midnight Senorita filly and 2yo filly Rip Van Winkle – Mary Agnes.
Finally Ventura will re-join the racing team in February following a lengthy spell to allow a hoof split to grow out. She has strengthened a lot while spelling and should have a good winter.
