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#221
02-26-2012, 11:19 AM
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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!  
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#222
02-27-2012, 05:48 AM
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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. Last edited by _ed_ : 02-27-2012 at 05:59 AM.
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#223
02-27-2012, 05:17 PM
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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. Last edited by _ed_ : 02-28-2012 at 03:46 AM.
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#224
02-28-2012, 03:53 AM
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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.
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#225
02-28-2012, 09:45 PM
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Thanks, ed! This is so cool!
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#226
02-28-2012, 10:08 PM
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In other news: http://www.bloodstock.com.au/news/story.php?id=22921
Wow, I'm definitely going to go and have a look.
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#227
02-29-2012, 05:11 AM
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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  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.
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#228
03-02-2012, 01:05 AM
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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.
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#229
03-02-2012, 04:03 PM
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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.
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#230
03-02-2012, 06:57 PM
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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!!!!!
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#231
03-03-2012, 12:40 AM
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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.
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#233
03-03-2012, 09:33 PM
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Quote:
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. 
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#234
03-03-2012, 10:21 PM
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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".  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.
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#235
03-03-2012, 10:44 PM
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"... 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!  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? Quote:
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#236
03-04-2012, 03:35 AM
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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.
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#237
03-04-2012, 12:03 PM
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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 ) 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.
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#238
03-05-2012, 04:52 AM
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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."
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#239
03-07-2012, 01:59 AM
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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:  Last edited by _ed_ : 03-07-2012 at 02:33 AM.
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#240
03-07-2012, 11:29 AM
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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.
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