The 2007 2000 Guineas winner -
THE POOKA
Video -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNBRlkm1bi8
This was an incredible race. The Pooka and Alamosa, side by side, in an awesome duel all the way down what both riders would agree is an extremely long Riccarton stretch. In the end it was The Pooka, who had run well against the older horses earlier in the year, who had the head in front at the wire.
Rios and Pierre Joseph both finished off strongly and will be better over more distance. Those two horses, and The Pooka, are heading for the Derby in March.
THE POOKA
Tobougg - The Banchee
Trainer John Wheeler says this 3yo is "the 4th best horse I've ever trained". That might not sound like much, but the 3 best horses he's trained are champions Rough Habit and Veandercross and Cox Plate winner Poetic Prince. So it's actually a pretty big call!
In September he finished 4th behind undeniably NZ's 3 best older horses - Seachange, Sir Slick and Princess Coup - in the G1 Stoneybridge Stakes at Hastings.
We weren't really sure how he'd go against his own age group, but we found out today. It was only a narrow win, but hugely impressive.
He's now won 5 out of 12 starts, with 1 second, 1 third, 1 fourth and 1 fifth.
I still haven't got over how good this race was.