Fillies and Mares Poised to Contest the Gr.1 NZB Breeders' Stakes
7 April 2006
New Zealand's richest race for fillies and mares - the Group 1 $120,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes (1600m) - has sparked the gathering of a promising field at Te Aroha on Saturday.
Vinny Colgan and last year's New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series winner, Justa Tad (Istidaad x Infinity), will reacquaint themselves with her return to racing in New Zealand after a stint in Australia. Without a win in over a year, she is currently favourite with the punters and starts from barrier 13.
Justa Tad was purchased by her trainer Rudy Lefting at the 2002 National Weanling Sale for NZ$1,000 and has returned over NZ$700,000 in prize-money to date.
Roger James has two runners contesting the race with Macavelli Miss (Vettori x Syrenka) and Stravinsky mare, La Sizeranne (Stravinsky x Tricia Ann). Macavelli Miss and Mark Hills are hoping to extend their Group 1 winning partnership after putting themselves in the limelight with a win against open class company in the Group 1 WRC Nissan Thorndon Mile (1600m) in late January.
Stable jockey, Andrew Calder will take the ride on La Sizeranne who has been victorious at Group 3 filly and mare WFA company twice in this preparation.
Stravinsky is represented by two other runners in the race including the John Bromley owned Julinsky Princess (Stravinsky x Juliette Heights) and the Martin and Priscilla Liao owned Pulcinella (Stravinsky x Shall We Dance).
Trained by Brent Hrstich at Trentham, Julinsky Princess will be partnered by Reese Jones for the first time on race day and is reported to be helped by a softening of the track. Bromley paid NZ$80,000 at the 2003 Ready to Run Sale for the Listed winner at the 2003 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Pint sized three-year-old Pulcinella has earned much respect after some courageous battles in her relatively short racing career. To date she has won two Group level races and has placed in another four. Lisa Cropp takes the ride on Saturday as regular rider Noel Harris is out for some time, recovering from broken ribs.
Last year's star two-year-old filly Mi Jubilee (Howbaddouwantit x Mi Steel) starts from gate 12 after a recent return to form with three wins on the trot. Both Mi Jubilee and Pulcinella sit at $13 on the tote behind Justa Tad, Viennetta, La Sizeranne, Arlingtonboulevard and Salsa.
The Mark Walker trained, Arlingtonboulevard (Spinning World x Golden Bridge), dispensing with her blinkers this time out, is another in strong contention for the Group 1 success after a good showing at trackwork yesterday.
Last winter's 'Miss Consistent', the John Morrell owned and trained, Haylee Baylee (Oregon x Mac's Gold) lines up for her second start this time in. At the end of last year's campaign her dependability was evident with a third placing in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Avondale Gold Cup (2200m), a length behind Creil and Kajema.
After guiding four horses to victory at Matamata on Wednesday, Leith Innes will ride the five-year-old mare, Salsa (O'Reilly x Ungaro). Trained and part owned by Margaret Falconer, Salsa has spent the last year racing in Melbourne where she earned black type by winning the Listed VRC Winter Championship Final (1630m) in July. Racing in some smart company of late, her racing career has seen her amass A$170,900 and NZ$51,990 in prize-money.
Ebony Lodge purchased Salsa at the 2002 Karaka Select Filly Sale for NZ$50,000 from Waikato Stud.
After his recent success with Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock New Zealand Oaks winning filly, Legs, Waikato Stud sire Pins has one runner in the race with the lightly raced Viennetta (Pins x Bali Sugar). She has had three wins in a row including the Group 2 NRM Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1400m) back in November and looks one to watch.
Also set to line up on Saturday are Bridie Belle, Kew, Leigh Valley, Pentazia, Aimee's Idol, Sanitee and Rosetti Bay.
In New Zealand Bloodstock's second sponsorship of the day at Te Aroha on Saturday, race 6 will see a twelve-horse field contesting the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 3YO (1400m).