Te Akau Racing strengthened their representation in next month’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) following the announcement of their Group One winner La Dorada as ‘The People’s Horse’.
Last season’s New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old will represent the Clubs and the winners of The NZB Kiwi Golden Ticket campaign in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, joining stablemates Belle Cheval (The King’s Men) and He Who Dares (Te Akau Racing).
Following a standout juvenile season where she won four of her five starts, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), La Dorada disappointed in her two-race campaign in Australia last spring, but bounced back with victory in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) and a last-start placing in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).
Mark Walker, who trains the filly alongside Sam Bergerson, is pleased to have a third contender in the NZB Kiwi, which will be run at Ellerslie in a fortnight.
“We took her to Melbourne in the spring and for whatever reason she didn’t really come up,” Walker said. “She had three weeks on the grass at Te Akau and it seemed to be the recipe to get her going well again.
“They were pretty tough races in the spring in Australia, but it was good to see her bounce back in New Zealand.”
Stablemate Belle Cheval will have her final hit-out ahead of the NZB Kiwi when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to tackle the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
The daughter of Savabeel was set to head to Matamata last weekend, but her connections elected to withdraw her following heavy rain and head to Ellerslie seven days later.
“We had this race as a Plan B,” Walker said. “It was our preference to run at Matamata with no travel but the heavy track put paid to that.
“She has got a wide draw (13), but she is in terrific form and has got a great record at Ellerslie. I am looking forward to it.”
She will be joined in her contest by stablemate To Bravery Born, who was eighth behind Belle Cheval in last month’s Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m).
“There’s a bit of a question mark at 1400m but there is nothing else around for him,” Walker said. “He will be ridden neutral to try and get the trip.”
The stable will also have three other stakes contenders at Ellerslie, including Towering Vision in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m), Qali Al Farrasha in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), and Born To Be Royal in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
“We will probably ride Towering Vision a fraction quieter from the draw (4). He might have got there just a bit soon in the Waikato Guineas (Gr.2, 2000m),” Walker said.
“Qali Al Farrasha comes into this with fresh legs and she is as honest as the day is long. She seems to go well fresh. She has had plenty of Group One seconds, we are just trying to enhance her resume with a Group One win.
“Born To Be Royal’s last start (last in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic, 2100m) was a bit of a headscratcher. Her run at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day (third in Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes, 2000m) was good, so you have just got to take her on trust. There is a hot favourite (Ohope Wins) in it that looks smart, but it is a horse race and anything can happen.”
On the undercard, Espionage will be seeking to bounce back in the Horizon By SkyCity 1200 following his unplaced run in last month’s Gr.1 Railway (1200m), as he gets ready for the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) on Champions Day.
“He ran really well first-up in New Zealand but his Railway run was just okay,” Walker said. “We will probably ride him neutral, like we did in his first start and see if he runs home.”
Meanwhile, Walker is gearing up for a busy day across the Tasman, with Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne barn set to line-up half a dozen runners on Blue Diamond Day at Caulfield, including I Am Aria in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
The daughter of I Am Invincible has placed in both of her starts to date and leading hoop Craig Williams has elected to stay with the filly.
“She has got a really good draw and if the emergencies come out she will jump from barrier four,” Walker said.
“I think the big plus with her is that Craig Williams got offered a lot of rides and he decided to stick with her. We will try and get in behind a few, she has led up in both starts through circumstances, but we think she might be better just taking a sit.”
Inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m) winner Damask Rose returned to form fresh-up last month when runner-up in the Gr.3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) and will be looking to go one better in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m).
“She was very good first-up and she has got a very good second-up record, and 1400m will suit her better,” Walker said.
Stable newcomer Watch Me Rock will have his first start for Walker in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), while he will also be represented by Abrafo in the Gr.2 Autumn Classic (1800m), Chateau Eze in the Gr.2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m), and Geegees Mistruth in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
“Watch Me Rock has just come over from Perth,” Walker said. “He is a lovely horse and Grant and Alana (Williams) have him in wonderful condition, he only arrived on Monday. I think it is a bit of an open race, I know Treasurethe Moment is quite short but she is fresh-up, it is a horse race, and anything can happen.
“Abrafo is an interesting runner. I think 1800m will suit him. It is the Werther/Bagalollies family, so a lot of staying blood in the family. He appears to be a nice staying prospect and he deserves his chance. He is long in the market but I think he will run better than that.
“We think Chateau Eze should run well if she gets a bit of luck from that awkward draw (7), and Geegees Mistruth is in great form, she should have won first-up, she was desperately unlucky, but she is going really well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
