Trevor Eagle Memorial 3yo (LR)
This Listed 3yo over 1500m saw a match up of a rising filly force in Two Illicit and a gelding with a massive reputation in Dragon Leap that started a clear cut favourite. Two Illicit would beat Dragon Leap by a short neck but the latter would throw the race away with waywardness the closing stages. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were eighth (five-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), co-leader (three-off the inside), led (on the fence and six lengths in front), led (on the fence and a head in front), sixth (four-off the inside and two lengths in front), co-leader (on the fence), eighth (five-off the inside and five lengths from the leader) and third (five-off the inside and a length from the leader). Two Illicit at $8 would settled fifth or sixth the inner then came off near the home turn before driving through at the 300m and she would be a still coming with serious intent second at the 100m. She ran straight and true to lead at the 50m and narrowly held on to clock 1:29.25 and record her second win in three starts and first obviously at Blacktype level. Dragon Leap cost plenty as a yearling and the Australian bred looks the part with unlimited power too but is yet to harness it properly and in a co-ordinated manner directionally. He raced seventh or eighth then surged from wide out turning for home to take the lead in an ominous fashion at the 200m by a length. The gelding started to lay out the last 100m then veered out badly resenting then whip and went from a length in front to be second, only to come back on the line and be beaten narrowly. Dragon Leap threw away a certain win but his size and scope is clear for all to see with a very good motor to boot too under the bonnet. The first two home were very dominant with a two and a half length gap back to the deadheaters for third in Tears Of Jupiter and Ranger. Tears Of Jupiter, an Australian bred filly was wide working forward before getting over fifth the outer and came up deep near the home turn to be fourth then reached second at the 200m. She was a fighting on fourth at the 150m and dug deep to share third honours on the line. Ranger set the pace and was headed at the 300m then third at the 200m trying hard and could not quite hold that finishing position outright. Grand De Flora ran on well from last on settling at her second start and looks a filly with upside galore. Blackrocksdetox also found the line well from second last and the still maiden once fully mature could win them in a row. The rest got beaten five lengths or more and will need more time or to meet inferior depth as the first two home in this are already shaping up to be in the top tier of their age group and sex. This result would prove pivotal in the 3yo pecking order and for a Listed race would produce a double G2 winning filly that would run an even money favourite in the G1 NZ Derby and finish second and a dual G2 winning gelding that would run second favourite at $3 in the G1 NZ Derby and finish fourth.
Sectional Times of ELLERSLIE - Saturday, 30th November 2019
Previous Winners
Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ESPRESSO MARTINI
(NZ)
3F HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - KEEPA CRUISIN (NZ) KEEPER (AUS) |
L G INNES | 55.5 | MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN | 5 |
|
ON THE ROCKS
(NZ)
3C ALAMOSA (NZ) - COLD SHOULDER (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB) |
PATRICK MOLONEY | 57.5 | MICHAEL MORONEY & PAM GERARD | 1 |
|
TOP PROSPECT
(NZ)
3G SWISS ACE (AUS) - PRINCESS CAROLINA (AUS) MORE THAN READY (USA) |
ALYSHA COLLETT | 58.5 | RICHARD COLLETT | 10 |
|
ALAMER
(NZ)
3F ALAMOSA (NZ) - CLERIO (GB) SOVIET STAR (USA) |
SAMANTHA COLLETT | 55.5 | ROGER LANG | 9 |
|
TAVY
(NZ)
3F TAVISTOCK (NZ) - THE CAT'S WHISKERS (NZ) TALE OF THE CAT (USA) |
V A COLGAN | 55.5 | R JAMES | 4 |
|
RISING ROMANCE
(NZ)
3F EKRAAR (USA) - POST ROMANCE (NZ) POSTPONED (USA) |
M T COLEMAN | 55.5 | DONNA & DEAN LOGAN | 8 |
|
OCEAN PARK
(NZ)
3C THORN PARK (AUS) - SAYYIDA (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
C K ORMSBY | 57.5 | G HENNESSY | 9 |
|
RAFFLES KNIGHT
(AUS)
3G ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) - LADY CIRCLES (AUS) ASCOT KNIGHT (CAN) |
L G INNES | 56.0 | STEPHEN MCKEE | 2 |
|
WALK IN THE PARK
(NZ)
3F THORN PARK (AUS) - SPRITZA (NZ) GROSVENOR (NZ) |
S C SPRATT | 56.0 | ANDREW SCOTT | 7 |