This was a strong G1 field for depth in the juvenile ranks and the winner Marky Mark has scope for sure with an impressive closing will to win. He had the draw and got the soft run today but professionally put them away the closing stages at his first left-handed outing once off and through from the trail. The Australian bred son of Makfi was winning his third race today from four starts and his only defeat was a solid fourth, which also came at G1. His trainer Moira Murdoch has been a gifted horsewoman for three decades and she won a Cox Plate with Solvit (1994) having finished runner up the year prior to The Phantom Chance with the same natural leader. Rocanto was a game second after working early onto the pace and then being a chasing third across the top. He is by the sire Per Incanto that provided the winner of the only other G1 juvenile race held in a New Zealand season namely Dal Cielo. Reminisce stormed home late for third from well back and the closing filly would run a mile now on her effort. The maiden Our Rokkii ran a cracker for fourth and was luckless the run home after getting up to fifth in behind them at the 200m then being blocked. The gelding ran on gamely late once one-off and through the closing stages. Bella Court came with some big strides late after being tardy then hampered and she was beaten less than a length and three quarters. Selfie was a tad disappointing after looming up likely at the 200m and he may have had enough for the season. Forgive the filly Nahema as she was crowded early and never got into the race at any stage. The winning time of 1:22.74 was solid and compared favourably to the Listed even for Open Class gallopers that followed this and clocked 1:21.25 (nine lengths faster). Lots of scope for the first six home and the majority of this field if not the rest will be winning at least once more. It may well turn out to be the best source race of the season for future winners numerically.
Previous Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
O'MARILYN
(AUS)
2F O'REILLY (NZ) - MONROE MAGIC (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
S C SPRATT | 54.5 | STEPHEN MCKEE | 12 |
|
|
RECITE
(NZ)
2F DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - CHANT (NZ) TRADITIONALLY (USA) |
MARK DU PLESSIS | 54.5 | JOHN BARY | 6 |
|
|
CHOICE BRO
(AUS)
2G CHOISIR (AUS) - LADIDI (AUS) PALACE MUSIC (USA) |
J K RIDDELL | 56.5 | J G SARGENT | 3 |
|
|
ANABANDANA
(AUS)
2F ANABAA (USA) - GREAT NOTICE (USA) NUREYEV (USA) |
O P BOSSON | 54.5 | D SELLWOOD | 2 |
|
|
NACHO MAN
(NZ)
2G MR NANCHO (ARG) - EL CORIERO (NZ) THE JOGGER (USA) |
C J GRYLLS | 56.0 | MIKE & PAUL MORONEY | 7 |
|
|
THE HECKLER
(AUS)
2G LUCKY OWNERS (NZ) - COMEDY CAFE (AUS) RORY'S JESTER (AUS) |
M T COLEMAN | 56.0 | MURRAY & BJORN BAKER | 11 |
|
|
IL QUELLO VELOCE
(NZ)
2F CAPTAIN RIO (GB) - NISHAANI (NZ) GOLD BROSE (AUS) |
N G HARRIS | 54.5 | J G SARGENT | 13 |
|
|
NIGHTLIGN
(NZ)
2C ALIGN (AUS) - INDIAN SQUAW (NZ) CAROLINGIAN (AUS) |
M T COLEMAN | 56.0 | KEITH & BRENDON HAWTIN | 8 |
|
|
JOKERS WILD
(NZ)
2C BLACK MINNALOUSHE (USA) - MISS RORY (AUS) RORY'S JESTER (AUS) |
J C COLLETT | 55.5 | 9 | |
|
|
KINDACROSS
(NZ)
2G CAPE CROSS (IRE) - KINDNESS (NZ) STAR WAY (GB) |
H S TINSLEY | 55.5 | MARK WALKER | 7 |
|
|
KEENINSKY
(NZ)
2C STRAVINSKY (USA) - SO KEEN (NZ) JADE HUNTER (USA) |
A C PEARD | 55.5 | GRAEME ROGERSON & STEPHEN AUTRIDGE | 5 |
|
|
MAROOFITY
(NZ)
2G MAROOF (USA) - HOWKUDAI (NZ) DON'T FORGET ME (IRE) |
L A O'SULLIVAN | 55.5 | MARK WALKER | 1 |
|
|
GROUT
(NZ)
2G GOLD BROSE (AUS) - KAAPSTAD GLAMOUR (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ) |
M J WALKER | 55.5 | A SHARROCK | 7 |
|
|
SAN LUIS
(AUS)
2C FLYING SPUR (AUS) - STAR STYLE GIRL (AUS) WITHOUT FEAR (FR) |
N G HARRIS | 55.0 | C MCNAB | 7 |
|
|
LITTLE JAMIE
(AUS)
2G ST. JUDE (AUS) - LITTLE CAREY (NZ) STANDAAN (FR) |
L A O'SULLIVAN | 55.0 | P O'SULLIVAN | 5 |
