Like Dave Rennie at a training run where the scrum hits aren’t right and the backs can’t connect the final‑phase pass. Better now than in the final, right?
That IRT 2YO Trot Prelude wasn’t perfect by any means…
Like Dave Rennie at that training run where the scrum hits aren’t right and the backs can’t connect the final‑phase pass.
Better now than in the final, right?
They’re still only two‑year‑olds, but you can bet coaches Purdon and Phelan were clasping at headsets when their charge Duke of Bourbon spilled the drinks late and lost the lot — not for the first time — in the final strides of the IRT Series Prelude, a dress rehearsal before venturing south for spring racing in Canterbury including the $100.000 series final!
And Tactico? He went straight ahead instead of around the first bend!
The other blueblood in the race got his trot together in time to keep cool and carry on for a technical victory — while, ironically, the best‑behaved had to settle for the minors.
Meanwhile down south, Eyes Wide Open (What The Hill) and others made it clear where the solidarity lies for now at least — loping along error‑free and easy to see on the Addington support card.
Not so obvious is why the stallion What The Hill is no longer available to breeders en masse.
Cameron Grant, in charge of Woodlands Stud stallion bookings and sales, acknowledges flagging demand for his services down under belies his progeny’s success lately — meaning that, other than a few frozen semen straws, he’s all but out of the commercial market here.
“We were negotiating bringing him down again a couple of seasons back and there was an offer made to buy the horse outright, so on balance the stud decided to sell its share. He’s still on the job but solely in the United States now.”
On another side of that fence, residing in a quiet Canterbury paddock near Leeston, is Waterloo Sunset — whose latest potential stakes performer Marikita impressed anyone watching last week.
Being a son of Rowe Cup winner Inspire and therefore related to many of New Zealand’s brightest trotting stars, that’s one thing. But as a son of legendary trot stallion Sundon, there are challenges: a vast number of mares also by Sundon or carrying him close in their pedigrees aren’t in Waterloo’s biological wheelhouse.
He’s still making quality hay with what he can get though — try stakes performers Gil Favor, Tu Tangata, Waterloo Station, and now Marikita all from a mid‑to‑low double‑digit total for live foals,... you get the picture.
A “grand final” for Franco Ankara quickly became a regroup in the aftermath.
The revelation that the Garrard’s Sires Stakes Sophomore Classic in a month is basically the same race — minus the stallion service‑fee clause and fillies — for $50,000 had the buzzing ownership charging glasses to push on!
Some of them have been here at the big‑decisions table before — like longtime Kentuckiana clients Bernard Smith and Grant Dickey — but for the two couples making up the Sixties Syndicate, Phil Gourdie and John Meates, not so much.
Franco Ankara, a Captain Crunch colt, fit the Kentuckiana Open Day syndication mold perfectly and filled quickly at the first ever event!
Phil confirms what Cran Dalgety was saying post‑match last Friday:
“He always said the horse had a lot of squirt (Cran‑speak for speed), but now he has the strength to go with it — so he’s transformed into a real wee rocketship!”
In other news out of the race, Song Of Seas gathered some black‑type and more momentum for her Nevele R Series tilt in second, despite a broken boring pole pre‑start and some minor tractability issues during the run.
On that….
Fly High flew the gate to dominate while the rest fidgeted for a posse in behind — and paid the price — in the first all‑comers heat (3) at Alexandra Park.
The powerhouse filly, bred by the McDermotts just out of Christchurch from their stakes‑performed mare Flyover, was the first leg of a weekend double for stallion Bettor’s Wish.
Not only is the son of Bettor’s Delight kicking long‑range goals from that limited first crop down under, he’s also produced the best three‑year‑old filly in North America this year — search Miss Jum Jabber’ !
Behind Fly High in Auckland, Ride The Waves again rated highly from out beyond the break for much of the 1700 metres, and the visiting Queen Lizzy’s big late burst for third — also from the cheap seats — may’ve indicated how the land lies among the three‑year‑old pacing fillies at this stage.
Further south, regular transmission resumed in steampunk central — Sunday at Oamaru — where the other winning daughter of Bettor’s Wish, Secret Wish with Indulge produced a simple lead +trail = quinella straight out of the Sires Stakes Final at Auckland in the autumn, only faster and by further!
What about those three‑year‑old trotters?!
It’s not often a race for New Zealand’s sophomore square‑gaiters could be written up as the most anticipated of a spring weekend — but the Macca Lodge Sires Stakes Three‑Year‑Old Fillies Trotting Classique might be that rare thing this time.
Friday night’s $60,000 Group 2 highlight brings together ridiculous quality and formlines to showcase huge potential in our young trot ranks.
Quite noticeable is the “bread‑and‑butter” budget and palette of breeders being rewarded — all runners by sires that can only be described as affordable, albeit some now widely unavailable.
Seemingly not short on supply is exceptional ability!
Here goes…
There’s Marikit, so impressive last week on the Addington support card. A daughter of Waterloo Sunset and an Elsu mare with claims to the best value filly in the racebook.
Then, Duchess Maria, by Father Patrick and the most decorated filly so far as a multiple stakes winner but followed closely by Petite Amour who has actually banked most stake money to date and a daughter of What The Hill, discussed earlier.
No wait, there’s more!
Like the undefeated Imperious Girl by Imperial Count, whose name fits her style so far in four starts down south.
Plus the winner of the two year old ‘Macca Lodge’ race last year, Becky’s Girl (Majestic Son).
BTW.
None of these are “past the post” to win it either — such is the depth of downright running ability.
Alongside two Woodlands Series 2YO Pacing Heats and the Group 1, $100,000 Caduceus Club 2YO Pacing Fillies Final, it all makes for another can’t‑miss weekend boldly circled on the Sires’ Stakes calendar.
