New Zealand Racing, 2009-10

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It was weird - he had nothing at the turn and dropped out. I didn't see anything wrong with him after the race in the TV coverage, but then I saw this a couple of days later - http://www.superracing.com.au/herald...begotyou/15265

Hope he's OK.

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Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Awww, any idea why Mufhasa was scratched?

Hope he's okay.

I haven't heard anything, but I guess it's a combination of the outside gate, big weight, etc.

I think they must have decided not to run a little while ago, because Sam is riding in NZ today.

[my miss storm cat]

Thanks ed and yeah here's hoping.

On a happier note I'm so glad i decided to play Wealth Princess across.

What a beautiful run.

Aaaaaalmost.

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She's terrific. I love her acceleration. Happy with Culminate's 4th as well.

And NZ came 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th in the Classic Mile with Pennachio, Firebolt, La Etoile and Time Keeper (his best run for a while!)

[my miss storm cat]

Thrilled for Time Keeper.

I used Firebolt in the top spot... had the right horses, wrong order. It's all good though.

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Early entries for the 3 big spring races at Hastings...

http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Meetings/Meeting.aspx/38177
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Meetings/Meeting.aspx/38192
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Meetings/Meeting.aspx/38204

So many great names! Katie, Mufhasa, Vosne Romanee, Keep The Peace, Pennachio, Firebolt, My (Miss) Keepsake, Monaco Consul...

I think Katie will be so, so hard to beat in the first two of those races. Her stamina is a little bit doubtful, though, so the Spring Classic could be Vosne Romanee or Keep The Peace.

Oh, and no Sir Slick in any of them. Could it be...? *fingers crossed*

[my miss storm cat]

Wow that's some list but damn i wish it were sooner!

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Very nice 2yo stakes race up at Ruakaka tomorrow. It's been won by a few good horses you might have heard of - Derby winner Leica Guv, Oaks winner Vapour Trail, other good stakes horses like Donna Rosita, Jazzella, Martini Red and Waitoki Dream...oh, and some horse called Sunline in 1998.

The field for this year:

1 31624 Upsala 7 70 56.0 Paul Taylor Kenny & Lisa Rae, Ruakaka
2 2 Savvy Dancer 8 57 56.0 Craig Grylls Mike & Paul Moroney, Matamata
3 43 Moneymaker 4 56 56.0 Jason Collett (a) Keith & Brendon Hawtin, Te Awamutu
4 14 Kahala 2 69 54.5 Cameron Lammas Cydne Evans, Pukekohe Park
5 1 Lol 11 69 54.5 David Walsh Murray & Bjorn Baker, Cambridge
6 8X631 Shamabelle 9 69 54.5 Allan Peard Donna, Dean Logan & Chris Gibbs, Ruakaka
7 0X036 Patsy O'Reilly 12 67 54.5 Danielle Johnson (a) Eamonn Green, Pukekohe Park
8 2 Mygoodgrace (AUS) 6 58 54.5 Opie Bosson Donna, Dean Logan & Chris Gibbs, Ruakaka
9 23 Punt Hill 13 58 54.5 Michael Coleman Jacqui Devlin, Pukekohe Park
10 743 Cool Storm 1 57 54.5 Sam Spratt Stephen McKee, Ardmore
11 27 Goldminer 15 56 54.5 Scratching Shaune Ritchie, Cambridge
12 73 Mytsharp 10 56 54.5 Samantha Collett Paul Jenkins, Matamata
13 3 Needlly 5 56 54.5 Matthew Cameron Lance Noble, Matamata
14 55 Simply Boogie 14 54 54.5 Trudy Thornton Brent Gillovic, Te Awamutu
15 Abeauty 3 50 54.5 Alvin Ng (a) Daniel Flavell, Ardmore Lodge


The favourite is the beautifully bred Mygoodgrace, just ahead of impressive debut winner Lol (lovely filly, but I don't like the name!). I really like Kahala and Savvy Dancer. Kahala won amazingly on her debut and was very unlucky not to win her second start. Savvy Dancer finished nicely in his only race and will like the step up to 1400m.

I think lots of these will be nice 3yos next season. I can't wait to get up there.

[my miss storm cat]

Thanks for the update... feel like it's been forever and oh yeah forgot to tell you I played that horse at HP... you kow the one you said not to cause it was too short? (Im a moron icon here).

Yeah well... lets just say I'll take your advice next time.

Hate the name too, was wondering if Opie is the regular rider for Mygoodgrace and need to wish luck to the Moroney girl just because.

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I expected Mallinson Road to run better than that. Hopefully he'll do better next time.

Opie doesn't often ride for the Logan stable, but he has ridden Mygoodgrace in both of her starts so far.

It was a really amazing day at Ruakaka. This is the view from the track's car park:


The undercard had some great races. My favourite was Dashing Donna, who was placed in a G1 two years ago, winning her first race in more than a year. She won by about three lengths, with her ears pricked. She's back!

And here's the 2yo stakes race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiwfRfsWxbA

[my miss storm cat]

Wow that is lovely and thanks for the replay!

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Upsala was 6th in a G1 and then 2nd and 4th in two stakes races, so he's been performing well in good company and deserved that win. He's on the 2000 Guineas trail now.

Katie Lee news - she's likely to have a trial race at Cambridge on Tuesday, then she'll be coming back to racing in the G3 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa on August 14. I'll be there, of course!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THE KIWI HORSES!

So it's officially the end of a great season. I guess it's time to think about the awards...

2yo
This is tough. No horse really won more than one of the really big races. I'll probably say Banchee just ahead of Nacho Man, because Banchee won a G1 and a G2.

Banchee
2 f Oratorio - Miss Jessie Jay
Season: 6 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third.
Major wins: G1 Diamond Stakes, G2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes



3yo
Two words - Katie and Lee.

Katie Lee
3 f Pins - Miss Jessie Jay
Season: 10 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds
Major wins: G1 2000 Guineas, G1 1000 Guineas, G2 Eight Carat Classic, G2 Sir Tristram Classic


But also respect to Monaco Consul, My (Miss) Keepsake, Time Keeper, Keep The Peace, Military Move and Joey Massino. Very good crop.


Sprinter
Vonusti, Coup Align and Australian invader Gold Trail were all good, but I think Tavistock wins this because of his two G1 wins.

Tavistock
4 c Montjeu - Upstage
NZ Season: 8 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third
Major wins: G1 Mudgway Stakes, G1 Waikato Sprint, G2 Blamey Stakes (AUS)


Middle Distance
I think Vosne Romanee's 3 G1 wins at 2000m make him a clear winner of this.

Vosne Romanee
7 g Electronic Zone - Madison Avenue
NZ Season: 8 starts, 3 wins
Major wins: G1 Kelt Stakes, G1 Zabeel Classic, G1 NZ Stakes


Stayer
Red Ruler had an excellent season in these races, so he should win this.

Red Ruler
5 g Viking Ruler - Ransom Bay
Season: 7 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third
Major wins: G2 City of Auckland Cup, G2 Wellington Cup, G3 Trentham Stakes


Apprentice Jockey
James McDonald (151 wins (8 stakes))


Jockey
Opie Bosson (158 wins (11 stakes))


Trainer
Mark Walker (108 wins (10 stakes)


HORSE OF THE YEAR
I think it's down to these two...


Katie Lee



Vosne Romanee


I'll go for Katie Lee for HOTY. Winning both Guineas races in that one week in November was something that has NEVER been done before in 150 years of racing at that Riccarton track. All of her starts this season were in stakes races, and she was only further back than third once (in the Derby, when something obviously wasn't right). She's had a great season, and deserves to be recognised with the award.

[my miss storm cat]

Oh damnit I forgot to say happy birthday!

I don't know ed, I thought you would have said Wealth Princess for Sprinter.

Poor Zarzuela, Boundless, Military Move, Monaco, Harris Tweed et al cause no one can win over Katie!

Maybe next year kids.

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Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I don't know ed, I thought you would have said Wealth Princess for Sprinter.

Maybe. She's the best horse nominated for that award, but she didn't actually win a G1 race (even though she went so close in Brisbane!). She ran in three G1s and ran second in two of them. She broke a track record and won her first five races in a row, but her best win was a G3.

I'd love to see her win it, but I think Tavistock's two G1 wins and Australian G2 win will get him the award.

[my miss storm cat]

Okay got it.

Just curious... does du Plessis have any shot for jockey?

Of course i like Opie as well but just wondering!

Forgot to say hooray for Red Ruler.

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He definitely does.

Mark Walker has gone to train in Singapore this year and taken quite a few of his NZ horses with him (including Tell A Tale ), so John Sargent now has the biggest stable in NZ. Mark's the contracted rider for that stable, and I think he'll have a great season riding horses like Passchendaele, St Germaine, Red Ruler, Banchee and the good 2yos they always have.

Opie might have trouble winning enough races in NZ because he's said he's going to follow Katie anywhere she goes to ride her. It sounds like she'll be doing a bit of racing in Australia from about October. Opie will miss quite a few NZ rides because of that, but I think it's the right choice!

[my miss storm cat]

Interesting about Tell a Tale, etc.

As an aside this is on the hk thread but incase you're one of the thousands who don't look at it Corporal Jones and Handsome Zulu are both in HK (which you probably knew was gonna happen months ago or posted and I had forgotten).

Here's hoping Tell a Tale becomes the star of Singapore racing.

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I knew they were going, but I didn't know when. Military Move is going to HK as well I think.