Things to know today
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Coniston won over 1400 metres at Matamata on Wednesday at his second start, the Wootton Bassett colt beating Vodka and Caviar by two lengths with a length and a quarter back to Concurrence in third. Michael McNab rode him for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, having partnered him in his last four public outings. He was bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, is out of the stakes winning mare Le Gai Soleil and is aimed at the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in November. “He is in the Guineas and all roads lead there at this stage, it is just which path we take,” Scott said (LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Tolaga Bay goes to the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude over 1400 metres at Caulfield on Saturday unbeaten, the Alabama Express filly having won on debut over 1200 metres in February and resumed over 1300 metres at Sandown a fortnight ago. An Inglis graduate who stayed in Australia, she is in Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, with the Group 1 Thousand Guineas over 1600 metres at Caulfield next month the aim. Stablemate Lara Antipova, who won the Listed Michael Moroney at Flemington last Saturday, may meet her in the Group 2 Edward Manifold at Flemington on 3 October (LOVERACING.NZ). Field content is not reproduced here |
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Stephen Marsh has won with every filly he has trained out of the Snitzel mare Parmalove and sends out a third, Acclivitous, on debut in a 1200 metre maiden at Ellerslie on Saturday under Michael McNab. Her half-sisters are Velocious, by Written Tycoon, who won six including the Group 1 Sistema Stakes and the Karaka Millions and was champion juvenile, and Alacritous, by Dundeel, who won last season. Acclivitous cost $375,000 at Karaka, the dearest of Parmalove’s yearlings to race in Albert Bosma’s Go Racing colours. “Her work has been very good as well, she’s drawn well and with (Michael) McNab on she ticks a lot of boxes,” Marsh said (LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Well Written crosses the Tasman for the Group 1 Epsom Handicap over 1600 metres and the Golden Eagle over 1500 metres, unbeaten in seven starts at home and a winner last time of the Group 1 Proisir Plate over 1400 metres. Matt Cartwright has ridden her throughout in New Zealand and Zac Lloyd takes over for the two start Sydney campaign. Stablemates Media World and El Vencedor go to the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile at Hastings on Saturday week. “She’s brilliant and has done everything perfectly since Ellerslie, she hasn’t missed a beat,” Marsh said (LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Paul Preusker has brought Christmas across the Tasman for the Great New Zealand Steeplechase over 6200 metres at Te Aroha on Sunday. The Horsham trainer’s French bred ten year old won three on the flat before switching to fences this season, was second at Hamilton in July, won the Casterton Chase over 3800 metres last month and ran fourth in the Grand National Steeplechase over 4500 metres at Ballarat a week later. Darryl Horner Jnr, who has ridden him in all three of his steeplechases, flies over this week. “He certainly wants the ground and a few more fences than the Grand National,” Preusker said (LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Jimmy Recard won a Warwick Farm trial on Tuesday by two and a quarter lengths from Viipuri, the I Am Invincible entire returning under James McDonald for Ciaron Maher after nearly a year away. He won the Group 3 Vain Stakes, ran third in the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes and was last seen finishing seventh in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and cost $350,000 at Magic Millions Gold Coast for Bennett Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. On the same card Freshman, the dearest yearling from the first crop of Wild Ruler at NZ$380,000, beat Devil Wings by a head for Bryce Heys (TTR AusNZ) |
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Satono Glow was the sectional pick of Saturday’s Flemington card for Nic Ashman, her closing 600 metres in the Group 3 Cap D’Antibes Stakes over 1100 metres running more than eight lengths above standard. She was also 0.20 seconds quicker overall than Paradoxium in the following race despite conceding about six lengths through the first section. The Satono Aladdin filly is expected to go to the Group 2 Danehill Stakes over 1200 metres down the straight with the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes as the target (TTR AusNZ) |
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Tron Bolt ran the fastest final 200 metres of Saturday’s Rosehill meeting from a wide gate in the Group 2 Run To The Rose, won by the Sword Of State colt Warwoven, and goes on to the Group 1 Golden Rose. The race was run in a fraction better than average overall but the last 400 metres took 21.96 seconds and the final 200 took 11.21. Skyhook, fourth in the Group 2 Theo Marks on the same card, is expected to press on to the Group 1 Golden Eagle in October rather than take in the Epsom (TTR AusNZ) |
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