New Zealand Racing

[_ed_]

Railings has drawn the inside gate, that will help him, but I think he might just find the distance too short. Think he's a big chance in the Kelt over more distance in a couple of weeks though.

Here's some info on the main chances in the Highview:

Special Mission: 3 f (obviously, all of them are!) Towkay - Te Akau Trek, 3:3-0-0
Unbeaten in 3. She won her maiden by 7 lengths, and has won 2 stakes since. Her last win was against a previously unbeaten and very good filly called Dashing Donna and it was a really impressive win.

Satinka: Stravinsky - Miss Saigon, 5:2-0-1
Won a nice G2 race as a 2yo before running 3rd against the boys in the strongest G1 of last season, the Diamond Stakes. Seems to run a really bad race from time to time though (her formline is 81138).

Diamond Deck: Octagonal - Miss Trump, 4:0-2-1
Can't believe she's still a maiden! Placed in 3 stakes races. She's a 3/4 sister to Lonhro (Miss Trump is a daughter of Lonhro's dam Shadea). Current favourite for the 1000 Guineas even though she hasn't won a race yet! That's just how impressive she has been in defeat so far.

Insouciant: Keeper - Loudenne, 1:1-0-0
A big step up from her maiden win (I posted a Youtube link to that one earlier), but she looked so good in that race, I'm sure she's got the ability to be competitive at this level. From a good family, half-sister to a nice G2 winner called Copper Mountain.

I think the winner will come from those 4...no idea which one though!

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

Diamond Deck: Octagonal - Miss Trump, 4:0-2-1
Can't believe she's still a maiden! Placed in 3 stakes races. She's a 3/4 sister to Lonhro (Miss Trump is a daughter of Lonhro's dam Shadea). Current favourite for the 1000 Guineas even though she hasn't won a race yet! That's just how impressive she has been in defeat so far.

Ooooh, I love it when they deserve to win and she's related to Lonhro? I'll root for this one!

[_ed_]

Highview Stakes:

Diamond Deck
Special Mission
Royal Taat

She did it! Great performance. She was well back in the field but ran on powerfully down the outside to run down the tearaway pacemakers Special Mission (who fought on well) and Satinka. She's finally broken her maiden, and done so in a G3, the strongest 3yo race of the season so far.

Special Mission was so brave, and has now won 3 out of 4 with a great 2nd in the other race.

Insouciant had a terrible run, missed the jump and was hanging badly all the way down the straight, did well to get 4th. Probably wouldn't have beaten Diamond Deck with a good run, but should have been 2nd. Can forgive her for this run if she learns to behave herself properly in future.

Amazing day for The Oaks Stud so far, they won the first with Keeperinthemyst and now Diamond Deck has carried their colours to victory in the Highview...and they've got Seachange in the Stoneybridge.

The undercard races have been good, I was really happy to see 2 stakes winners at Ellerslie from last season come out and win today. Russian Conquest (3 c St. Petersburg - Woodminco, 10:4-1-0) led all the way and held on to beat the highly rated El Cuento and unbeaten Fritzy Boy in a 3-way photo, then Bonaichi (4 m Fusaichi Pegasus - Bonanova, 13:3-2-0) was near the back around the turn but flew down the outside and won by an increasing margin.

Now just an hour until the Stoneybridge. Result of that and videos of both races to come a bit later.

[my miss storm cat]

Oh nice!

Thanks for the results..... I was just trying to find them and had given up.

[_ed_]

And a G3-winning and G1-placed filly from last season Irlanda (4 m O'Reilly - Cenphic, 10:4-3-1) has just come out and won the Bay Ford Stakes for fillies & mares. Nice to see her back to her best!

On to the Stoneybridge.

[_ed_]

Seachange
Sir Slick
Princess Coup

They didn't think it was worth taking her to the sales as a yearling because her front right leg is so badly formed and swings out when she runs. And they hoped she would finish in the first 5 in her first start in a maiden...now she's won 12 out of 20 and 5 G1s. And she just tries so hard every time, it's impossible not to love her.

Sir Slick was brave in defeat but Seachange cruised up beside him while McKeon had her under a tight hold, and she just drew away.

Princess Coup flew from well back to get 3rd, the Kelt in 2 weeks is a perfect race for her...if she can beat Seachange.

And Railings went a very nice race over a distance too short for him, he was way back around the turn but ran on nicely to finish about 7th.

I'll post videos a little bit later.

[_ed_]

Videos:

Highview Stakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLB9GSYlILU
Stoneybridge Stakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0WIqyfu8n8

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by _ed_

And Railings went a very nice race over a distance too short for him, he was way back around the turn but ran on nicely to finish about 7th.

Awww, thanks for the visual. Good boy! (Him, not you).

(Oh okay you too...)

I'll watch the videos in a bit when i'm awake.

Thanks for the results!