On a brighter note, Pinzaara's running tomorrow! :D

1 80X69 Call Me Capo 3 45 58.5 Matthew Cameron Donna & Dean Logan, Ruakaka
2 4 Sound Barrier 5 50 58.0 Michael McNab (a2) Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
3 Cartell 6 47 58.0 Alysha Collett (a1) Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park
4 39623 La Pinnicle 4 54 56.5 Rory Hutchings (a2) Peter Lock, Te Rapa
5 4005X Sunsett 7 49 56.5 Danielle Johnson Stephen McKee, Ardmore
6 5 Miss Quasar 9 47 56.5 Tasha Collett Natalie Tanner, Avondale
7 59226 One Hipp Chick 10 53 56.0 Maija Vance (a1) Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
8 255 Quin Bay 2 52 56.0 Leith Innes Stephen McKee, Ardmore
9 8X54 Fortunate 8 50 56.0 Stephen McKee, Ardmore
10 77646 Pinzaara 1 49 56.0 Sam Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore


Sam Spratt had the choice of all the McKee horses in the field, and she chose our girl!

I won't be able to make it to the track, sadly, because I'll be at work. But I'll make sure I find a TV!

If Pinzaara doesn't win, I hope Sunsett does - she's Sunline's last baby.

GOOD LUCK!

How exciting! Thrilled for you!

:eek:
She won! So amazing!

I loved that mare! I had no idea this was her baby. Is she a good filly?

OH MY GOD ED I JUST CHECKED RESULTS AND AM THRILLED FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/fo...ate=22/02/2012

Not so far, sadly - 9 starts for no wins. :( She has shown glimpses of potential, but nothing like her mother's ability.

Sunline's only other foals to race have been a bit better. Sunstrike won two of her 19, and Sun Ruler had 13 starts for two wins. And, unforgettably, they fought out the finish of a race once: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFMPOtHVgWo

:D
Thanks!

What a shame.. Not that uncommon though I guess.

Terrific field for the G1 WFA Classic at Otaki tomorrow.

1 X952X Eagle Mountain (GB) 1 118 59.0 Leith Innes Stephen McKee, Ardmore
2 41121 Veyron 4 106 59.0 Mark Hills Linda Laing, Cambridge
3 44332 Hold It Harvey 8 104 59.0 Jonathan Riddell Terri Rae, Riccarton Park
4 X5807 Vosne Romanee 6 100 59.0 Buddy Lammas Jeff Lynds, Awapuni
5 27291 The Hombre 10 98 59.0 David Nolan John Bary, Hastings
6 41215 Sadist 7 95 59.0 Hayden Tinsley John Sargent, Matamata
7 86121 Jaggard 9 90 59.0 Darryl Bradley Shaun McGarry, Wingatui
8 60114 Guiseppina 5 104 57.0 James McDonald Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari
9 95124 Postman's Daughter 3 101 57.0 Rory Hutchings (a) Don Walker, Pukekohe Park
10 41141 Lady Kipling 2 98 57.0 Lisa Allpress Murray Baker, Cambridge

Aaaahhhhh are you kidding me? Can I just move there cause it's like every field is fantastic!

Good luck to most of them, the above listed BUT especially Eagle Mountain (welcome back!), Vosne Romanee (please please please let this horse win one!), and my very special giant, Mr. The Hombre!

Who wins this, ed? If I were playing I'd go with The Hombre or Sadist for absolutely no reason, :)

Hey again,congrats! I have told everyone I've ever met in my life and they all think I'm mad but are very excited that someones horse won. :D

Every time I look at the field, I think someone else is gonna win it! I can only narrow it down to five - Eagle Mountain, Veyron, The Hombre, Guiseppina and Lady Kipling. Maybe Veyron, just.

And (King) Mufhasa's the favourite in the G1 Futurity tomorrow over in Australia! Hope he wins.

Haha, thanks! It was a huge thrill. And now they're hoping to run Pinzaara at Ellerslie during Derby week! That would be so amazing - my home track, my favourite track and the best track in NZ. They're aiming for a Rating 65 race on Cup day (March 7). Fingers crossed!

It would be a huge step up for her, so I won't expect her to win, but just seeing her run at Ellerslie on a big day like that would be so awesome.

Wow, Ellerslie? That is great! Keep us up to date!!!

How do you think our King will do?

I know he likes being at home better but he IS the best horse in the field. Here's hoping!

Wall Street! It's been a while, hasn't it?

Good luck to Mufhasa. :)

That's exactly right. He hasn't really shown his best all season, apart from a good run for 4th I think it was in the Cox Plate. He would be a good chance in this at his best!

Mufhasa is the best horse in the race, and apparently he's handled the trip over there really well. I think he'll be really hard to beat.

The lovely Anabandana is running in a G2 over there tomorrow as well. :)

Oh I'll have to go and look to see which race she's in!

The Matamata Breeders' Stakes, a G2 2yo fillies race won by Anabandana and Banchee in the last two years, was won quite nicely today by a Holy Roman Emperor filly called Rollout The Carpet. She looked pretty good.

The big Otaki G1 is only 10 mins away now.

But Mufhasa's performance in Melbourne is the highlight of the day so far!

Hahahaha I had to wait for this to leave and well worth it even though I didn't bet acent (it would have jinxed him).

MUFHASA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dying here ed I'm so happy!

Have fun the rest of the night and I hope all your picks win.

I put in my plays and will check back later cause nothing matters as much as this (although I do hope I do okay :$: :D).

Thrilled too!!!

It was amazing. Nine G1s for Mufhasa now. :)

Veyron wins again at Otaki! His third G1. Lady Kipling second, Guiseppina third. Eagle Mountain was about 6th or 7th. He was solid, but just couldn't sprint with the others this time. I'd like to see him over more distance.

Ridiculous.

Mufhasa gets his 9th G1 win and this is the story on Racing Post?

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse...international/

I love Eagle Mountain too but come on... they're kind of missing the bigger story!

Finally had a look at Veyrons nice win... was I imagining that Vosne Romanee did okaaaaay?

Oh yeah, lest I forget.... :D

9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's annoying! What more does Muf have to do to get some respect?

He did! He was running really nicely at the end. Hope he does that again when he goes over more distance next time.

:D
Can't wait for number 10.

It's time to take a look at the Derby horses!

Let's start with the two fillies. First, the one everyone's talking about...

SILENT ACHIEVER

3 f O'Reilly - Winning Spree
Owner & Breeder: Valachi Downs
Trainer: Roger James
Jockey: James McDonald

6 starts
4 wins
1 second
1 third

Major races:
1st G2 Championship Stakes
1st G2 Avondale Guineas
1st G3 Waikato Guineas
3rd G2 Eight Carat Classic (fillies)

Derby odds: 2.20 (favourite)

Positives:
* Considered by many to be the best 3yo in NZ.
* Roger James has trained four Derby winners.
* Undefeated in races further than a mile.
* Won three of the major Derby prep races.
* Has beaten most of the Derby field.
* Amazing ease and superiority in her three big wins against the boys so far.
* Two stakes wins at the Derby track, Ellerslie.

Negatives:
* The history of fillies in the Derby.

Only three fillies have won the Derby in the last 45 years, and none since Popsy (Rock 'n' Pop's mum!) in 1993. But I think Silent Achiever can break that drought. She has a great trainer and NZ's best jockey, and she has just looked so much better than every horse she's faced so far. I think she wins.


BUT she's not the only filly in the race!


ZURELLA

3 f Zabeel - Doneze Girl
Owner & Breeder: The Oaks Stud
Trainer: Shaune Ritchie
Jockey: Jason Waddell

6 starts
4 wins
1 second
0 thirds

Major races:
1st G2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic (fillies)
1st G3 Eulogy Stakes (fillies)

Derby odds: 9.00

Positives:
* Zabeel has sired three Derby winners.
* Closely related to Australian champion Lonhro (Doneze Girl is out of his half-sister).
* Shaune Ritchie won the Derby with Military Move.
* Has shown great stamina and a very strong finishing kick.

Negatives:
* The history of fillies in the Derby.
* Has only been racing against fillies so far, so the Derby will be her very first time taking on the boys.
* Her only run at Ellerslie was the worst of her career.
* Temperament - some concern that she might melt down in front of a big crowd.

Everyone's (understandably) so caught up in the Silent Achiever hype that some aren't noticing this other filly in the race. But I think she is a genuine contender as well. She has the breeding and the talent to be a real force in the Derby. I'm just a bit concerned that she hasn't faced the boys at all before, and her only run at Ellerslie was a failure. Also, she has a tendency to get really agitated and nervous before a race - I'd be worried about her in front of a big Derby Day crowd.

I look so forward to this every year, ed... thank you! I know it takes up a lot of time.

Can't wait to read the next bunch! :)

ROCK 'N' POP

3 c Fastnet Rock - Popsy
Breeder: Barnaby & Co
Owner: Te Akau Stud
Purchased for $1 million at 2010 NZ National Yearling Sale
Trainer: Jason Bridgman
Jockey: Matthew Cameron

7 starts
3 wins
2 seconds
1 third

Major races:
1st G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas

Derby odds: 6.50

Positives:
* Won the 2000 Guineas - along with the Derby, that's one of NZ's two best 3yo races. It was a much bigger race and better field than any other Derby horse has been victorious in.
* Incredible quality in his pedigree - by Australia and NZ's best sire of the season, and out of one of NZ's champion mares of the '90s, Popsy (1993 Derby winner).
* Carries the famous orange and blue colours of Te Akau, the dominant force in NZ racing.

Negatives:
* Some question marks about the distance.
* Only 1 win in three starts since the Guineas, and that win was in a close photo against a horse who failed next start. Not sure if he's really on his game.
* Te Akau may dominate NZ racing, but they've NEVER won a Derby. They haven't gone closer than 3rd (Te Akau Nick 1991).

This guy's performance to win the 2000 Guineas was possibly the best by any 3yo this season. That was an awesome field, and he had this incredible turn of foot that made them look like they were standing still. He hasn't been as good as that since, although his 3rd against older horses in the G1 International was very solid. His mother won the Derby, but his sire is much more speed-orientated. I think he's in the top two in this race in terms of quality, but I'm just not sure he'll run out a really strong 2400m.



OCEAN PARK

3 c Thorn Park - Sayyida
Breeder: Trelawney Stud
Owner: A Wong, S Yan & G Hennessy
Purchased for $150,000 at 2010 NZ National Yearling Sale
Trainer: Gary Hennessy
Jockey: Chad Ormsby

5 starts
3 wins
2 seconds
0 thirds

Major races:
1st G3 Wellington Stakes
2nd G2 Great Northern Guineas
2nd G3 Waikato Guineas

Derby odds: 4.50

Positives:
* Never further back than 2nd in his career, and he's shown amazing acceleration.
* He's performed strongly in three major Derby prep races.
* He's another horse with great pedigree - by Thorn Park (sire of 2011 Derby winner Jimmy Choux) out of Sayyida, who was an amazingly talented mare whose promising racing career was cut short by injury.
* He's rated highly enough by his connections to be targeting next year's Hong Kong Derby.

Negatives:
* Beaten without excuses by Silent Achiever in the Waikato Guineas.
* Inexperience - he's had the fewest starts of any of the major contenders.

Some of this horse's efforts have been breathtaking. He's a very special talent. He was the clear Derby favourite until the Waikato Guineas, when Silent Achiever came from behind him and went straight past him. He didn't do much wrong in that race, but he just ran into one better. I find it just a little hard to see him turn that around here. But he's a very solid place chance.

It's FINALLY confirmed. She's in!
http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...or-Derby-entry

The other big news is the Moroney-trained filly Chicharita is also now in the Derby! They paid the late entry today. So we'll have a closer look at her in the next couple of days too.

SHUKA

3 g Bachelor Duke - Alabama Rose
Breeder: The Oaks Stud
Owner: Parr Bloodstock
Purchased for $20,000 at 2010 NZ National Yearling Sale (!!)
Trainer: Peter & Dawn Williams
Jockey: Hayden Tinsley

13 starts
3 wins
3 seconds
2 thirds
4 stakes fourths and fifths

Major races:
1st G2 Wakefield Stakes (2yo)
2nd G2 Championship Stakes
2nd G2 Avondale Guineas
2nd Canterbury Stakes
3rd G3 Waikato Guineas
4th G2 Great Northern Guineas
5th G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas
5th G1 Diamond Stakes (2yo)
5th G1 Sires' Produce Stakes (2yo)

Whew!

Derby odds: 8.00

Positives:
* He seems to run a terrific race every single time he steps out on a racetrack.
* No doubts about the distance or about Ellerslie.

Negatives:
* He just never wins!

You have to love Shuka. He hasn't run a bad race in his life, and he's always right there at the finish of every single race he runs in. But he hasn't had a major stakes win since January 2011, when he was a 2yo. He seems to just keep finding one or two that are better on the day, and most of the ones that have been beating him lately will be in this field. He'd be a popular winner, but another lovely placing looks like his best hope in the Derby.



CHICHARITA

3 f Towkay - Trisynd
Breeder: Suncroft Bloodstock
Owner: Segenhoe Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Michael Moroney & Andrew Clarken
Jockey: ?

7 starts
3 wins
0 seconds
1 third

Major races:
1st G2 Royal Stakes (fillies)

Derby odds: 14.00

Positives:
* A G2 winner over 2000m at Ellerslie against a strong field of fillies.
* Trainer Moroney has won the Derby three times before (Great Command 1996, Cut The Cake 2003 and Xcellent 2004)

Negatives:
* A bit disappointing last start.
* Regular jockey Chad Ormsby has opted for Ocean Park instead.
* The decision to run in the Derby seems to be a last-minute change of heart. The Oaks was the main goal. Will she be at her peak for this?

I loved this filly's performance in the Royal Stakes, and I think she's a massive chance in the New Zealand Oaks. I just don't like that the Derby wasn't in the plans until quite close before it, while so many others have been trained to peak on this day for the last few months. But the Moroney team are amazing and wouldn't put a horse in a race where they have no chance. Another problem I have is that her Derby jockey will most likely be riding her for the very first time in this race.

Thanks, ed! This is so cool!

In other news: http://www.bloodstock.com.au/news/story.php?id=22921

Wow, I'm definitely going to go and have a look.

Two more...

RED SHIFT

3 g Lucky Unicorn - Scarlet Queen
Breeder: Valachi Downs
Owner: OTI Racing
Purchased for $10,500 at 2010 NZ National Yearling Sale
Trainer: Regan Donnison
Jockey: Michael Coleman

9 starts
2 wins
1 second
3 thirds

No major races

Derby odds: 30.00

Positives:
* A big, powerful gelding with a lot of stamina.
* A winner over 2100m at Ellerslie.
* Recently purchased for apparently quite a large amount by a successful and experienced Australian syndicate that rate him highly.

Negatives:
* Untested against this class of opposition.
* Ran a terrible race last start - 7th in Rating 75 grade.

Until his last start, I thought this guy was a live contender in the Derby at big odds. But he was so bad in that race that I was forced into a rethink. He has to make up a dozen lengths on that performance to be even vaguely competitive against much stronger opposition here. His pedigree, size and running style scream 'Derby', but his last start was just too bad to ignore.



ANGELOLOGY

3 g Coats Choice - Fallen Angel
Breeder: A Jones & E Morris
Owner: A Illston, C Payne and M Prebble
Purchased for $3,250 at 2010 NZ National Yearling Sale :eek:
Trainer: Kevin Myers
Jockey: Kelly Myers

6 starts
4 wins
1 second
1 third

No major races

Derby odds: 18.00

Positives:
* He's been monstrous lately, winning races by up to 7 lengths
* Trainer Myers won the Derby in 2008 with C'est La Guerre

Negatives:
* All of his races have been in races worth $10,000 or less, and many of them have been on minor country racetracks - it's a big step up.

The mystery horse. I'd barely even heard of this gelding until his name was thrown into the Derby ring this week. Looking back at replays of his previous performances, he's a very visually impressive horse. His 7-length win was jaw-dropping. But the horses he's been racing against would be lapped in this race. He has to make a really, really big step up in class here.


I think these are all the major contenders - plus they're the only ones I have photos for! I'll cover the others in the next couple of days, but in a bit less detail. :)

And the others...

TRAVOLTA
3 g Handsome Ransom - Belongs In Lights
Trainer: John Kiernan
Jockey: Mark Hills
9 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds
4th G2 Avondale Guineas
A talented horse who ran a really good race in the Avondale Guineas, and it looks like he's peaking at the right time. But he was convincingly beaten by the first three in the Guineas, and I don't expect him to turn the tables on them.


MR CHEZ
3 g Duelled - Tittletaat
Trainer: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson
Jockey: Sam Spratt
10 starts: 1 win, 1 second, 3 thirds
4th Geelong Classic (AUS), 10th G1 Victoria Derby (AUS), 6th G2 Avondale Guineas
This guy seems to hardly ever run a bad race, but the fact that he's only had one win in his career so far makes it hard to see him as a real winning chance.


CARRICK
3 g Shinko King - Sunday
Trainer: Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue
Jockey: Leith Innes
4 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third
3rd G2 Avondale Guineas
Never further back than third in his life, and he looks like a strong, tough 3yo. He also handles off tracks, which it looks like it might be (again!). But he has to improve significantly on his Guineas effort to threaten Silent Achiever.


GUESS WHAT
3 g Danroad - May Storm
Trainer: Paul Shailer
Jockey: Noel Harris
7 starts: 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third
4th G3 Waikato Guineas, 11th G2 Avondale Guineas
I really liked this guy's run in the Waikato Guineas, and I started to think he was a nice Derby longshot. But I expected him to improve in his next start, the Avondale, but instead he went backwards. Not a likely winner.


NINE PIN
3 g Pins - Tantara
Trainer: Leo Molloy
Jockey: Danielle Johnson
12 starts: 1 win, 2 seconds, 1 third
No major races
This horse is really nicely bred, but his performances so far haven't really reflected that. He has to take a massive step up here.


ROAMIN
3 g Spartacus - Mintelle
Trainer: Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield
Jockey: Trudy Thornton
14 starts: 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third
5th G2 Avondale Guineas
This horse seems to be improving, with his last two starts being a good win and a career-best effort for 5th in the Avondale. But I don't think he's improving enough to be a real factor.


BARNEY
3 g Duelled - Light A Candle
Trainer: Anne Herbert
Jockey: Craig Grylls
6 starts: 1 win, 1 second, 1 third
6th G2 Championship Stakes, 7th G3 Waikato Guineas
Solid galloper who always tries hard. I think he could win a nice race at some point in his career, but I don't think this will be it.


COLORADO SUN
3 g Strada - Denver Night
Trainer: Shane Crawford
Jockey: Patrick Holmes
6 starts: 1 win, 0 seconds, 3 thirds
8th G2 Avondale Guineas
His Avondale effort was OK, but it was a long way from the level needed to win a Derby. His odds are 100-1, and that seems fair. He might be a nice stakes horse one day, but tomorrow's not that day.


JEROBOAM
3 g O'Reilly - Sexy
Trainer: Graham Richardson
Jockey: ??
5 starts: 1 win, 1 second, 1 third
No major races
I actually really like this guy as a future G1 horse, but I think the Derby is coming just a bit too soon for him. He's never faced this quality of opposition before, and I don't think he's quite ready to compete with the big boys just yet. But Richardson's the in-form trainer of the summer in NZ. It seems almost every horse he saddles up wins. So you never know.

IT'S DERBY DAY!

Ocean Park was surprisingly scratched yesterday when the weather forecast was really bad. But the weather's fine today, so they must be regretting that now!


Odds...

Rock 'n' Pop 8.00
Shuka 7.00
Ocean Park SCRATCHED
Red Shift 15.00
Travolta 26.00
Mr Chez 51.00
Angelology 13.00
Carrick 10.00
Guess What 61.00
Nine Pin 61.00
Roamin 61.00
Barney 51.00
Colorado Sun 61.00
Jeroboam 61.00
Silent Achiever 2.80f
Zurella 13.00
Chicharita 10.00

Good luck to everyone lucky enough to be connected with one of these horses.

It's today??!! Wow that went by too fast!

Good luck to you, come home safe everyone, shocked about Ocean Park... let us know about the statue (!!!) and I have to say good luck to Shuka. :)

I do think it's Silent Acheiver who wins this but if ever there were a day for Shuka to do it this would be an outstanding choice!

HAVE FUN!!!!!

SHE DID IT!



And it was so easy. What a filly. Rock 'n' Pop 2nd, Carrick 3rd. Shuka didn't get the trip.

Durham Town won the G3 Darley Plate. Vonusti flew late to get 2nd, and Upsala was really close behind them.

Roger James: "a special horse...the best I've trained."
James McDonald: "the best I've ever sat on."

:eek:
Wow.

I am so happy and cannot imagine what a ****ing thrill it was being there!

Wait a minute, I must be hallucinating cause I thought you posted that Vonusti was 2nd... (?????!!!!!) in the Darley Plate.

Oh I need to go and watch that one as I'm falling on the floor!

GOOD boy, Upsala.

This girl though... Jesus Christ I did see that replay and whoa she certainly is special. :tro:

She's amazing. It was an incredible thrill to be there! It's one of the best Derbys I've seen. I honestly can't choose between this one, Jimmy last year and Xcellent in '04.

James McDonald was fined $300 for his "premature celebratory gesture". :rolleyes: I doubt whoever made that decision ever rode a Derby winner.

Yep, Vonusti got 2nd! He seems to really love the Darley Plate - he was 3rd in it last year and 2nd in it in 2010 as well.

"... but here's one for the good guys..."

Such a great race caller for all of the races.

Wow Vonusti was flying at the end!

I just watched it four times. Don't tell anyone! :D

Nice move by Aspinal who I hate to say I've never heard of. It didn't last but what a nice girl she is.

Wow, Durham Town was awesome!

You are SO lucky... full fields of fantastic horses week after week....

Can't imagine actually getting to go.

... and the Derby!!!!! So amazing and yeah I would have asked which was the best you had been to.

I didn't realize you were actually there for Xcellent but then why wouldn't you have been?! :)

Did you see the statue? Does it do her justice?

Maybe he'll win it next year!

The statue's unveiled on Cup Day, which is Wednesday. I'm really looking forward to seeing it!

Field for the Cup...

1 05110 Six O'Clock News 6 104 59.0 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Cambridge
2 55082 Booming 20 102 58.0 Hugh Bowman Jeff Lynds, Awapuni
3 04112 Titch 12 103 57.5 Opie Bosson Kevin Myers, Wanganui
4 05023 Spiro 3 102 57.5 Chad Ormsby Sylvia Kay, Levin
5 21013 Shez Sinsational 19 105 55.0 Allan Sharrock, New Plymouth
6 31141 Single Minded 11 98 54.0 Craig Grylls Graham Richardson, Matamata
7 24341 The Jungle Boy 17 98 54.0 Shaun Clotworthy, Byerley Park
8 18403 Blood Brotha 8 94 54.0 Raymond Connors, Wanganui
9 00604 Back In Black 1 92 54.0 John Steffert, Te Aroha
10 03449 Castle Heights 21 91 54.0 Donna & Dean Logan, Ruakaka
11 90385 Loose Change 23 91 53.5 David Haworth & Matt Dixon, Foxton
12 58207 Aussieaussieaussie 4 86 52.5 Mark Sweeney Kevin Hughes, Riccarton Park
13 64020 Yours 22 86 52.5 Bill Thurlow, Waverley
14 94131 Options 7 96 52.0 Alysha Collett (a) Peter & Dawn Williams, Byerley Park
15 86070 Innocent Lady 24 89 52.0 Trudy Thornton Graeme & Mark Sanders, Te Awamutu
16 10512 Peace Lilly 9 87 52.0 Kelly Myers Ralph Manning, Cambridge
17 38414 Jafa Jack 13 85 52.0 Shane Hapeta, Byerley Park
18 02398 Top Spot 16 83 52.0 Masa Tanaka Graham Richardson, Matamata
19 21125 Maythehorsebemagic 18 83 52.0 Brad Peterson, Cambridge
20 84064 Aruriteson 10 82 52.0 John Williams, Pukekohe
21 62531 Dadzadreamer 2 81 52.0 Graham Richardson, Matamata
22 53421 Barbadine (USA) 14 81 52.0 Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari
23 81615 Endor 5 80 52.0 Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
24 11186 Guns At Five 15 80 52.0 Chris Wood, Cambridge

Shez Sinsational will be the favourite, I think. But I love Single Minded's efforts so far this year, and it would be so great to see Six O'Clock News win a G1.


One of the other stakes races on Wednesday (and the reason the statue is going to be unveiled that day!) is the Sunline Vase. :)

1 31125 Our Famous Eve 15 79 56.5 Glenn Old, Matamata
2 44435 Artistic 3 78 56.5 Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
3 11273 Joy's Choice 6 74 56.5 Opie Bosson Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Tuhikaramea
4 22307 ***** O'Reilly 13 73 56.5 Samantha Collett Don Sellwood, Cambridge
5 72311 Glad 11 72 56.5 Matthew Cameron Jason Bridgman, Matamata
6 X4125 Mosh Pit 7 72 56.5 Lisa Allpress Graham Richardson, Matamata
7 69171 Ruby Lips 17 70 56.5 Michelle Wenn Richard Coxon, Matamata
8 12250 Divine Spice 8 65 56.5 Stephen Marsh, Cambridge
9 4152 Splitsecond 2 65 56.5 Hugh Bowman Roger James, Cambridge
10 16274 Innovation 14 64 56.5 Ralph Manning, Cambridge
11 4651 Deliciano 9 63 56.5 Leith Innes Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari
12 77614 Manhattan Mam (AUS) 16 63 56.5 Richard Collett, Pukekohe Park
13 06185 Please Release Me (AUS) 10 63 56.5 Vanessa & Wayne Hillis, Matamata
14 38031 Torque It 4 63 56.5 Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield, Te Awamutu
15 33317 Vaayala 5 62 56.5 Sam Spratt Murray Baker, Cambridge
16 19307 Zah Girl 12 62 56.5 Shaun Clotworthy, Byerley Park
17 46 Robben Island 1 49 56.5 Richard Otto, Te Awamutu

Joy's Choice and Artistic for me in this one.

That is awesome and cannot wait to hear about it.

Good luck to ***** O'Reilly because it cracks me up every time I see (or rather don't see) her name (yes I am very immature :D ) and to the usual suspects...

Six O'Clock News, Shez Sinsational, Titch, Booming, Jungle Boy, Single Minded and Aussie.

Really though I hope it's Six O'Clock News. :)

It sounds like the Derby winner has come through the race really well.

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing...-Derby-victory

"After trotting her up I took her for a pick on the lead. She put her head down to graze for a while and then decided to have a roll then a squeal when she leapt to her feet."

"This morning I decided to give her a light trot and canter under saddle just to be doubly certain. Everything about her tells me she is a very happy horse."

:)

Shez Sinsational won the Cup! Amazing performance by Six O'Clock News, and Booming ran so well too. Artistic took the Sunline Vase, and Fazzle won the Westbury Classic.

I went to see the unveiling of the statue. It's amazing! I took a photo:

Oh thank you for posting the picture - it must have been a bittersweet moment - and yes I wanted to wait and be surprised but just now read on RP that she won!

Awesome!

I need to go watch replays. :)