This G2 2yo over 1200m saw the filly Play That Song remain unbeaten and get her hattrick, when winning comfortably as the second favourite. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were third (four-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), fifth (four-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), third (eight-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), led (six-off the inside and a length clear), second (three-off the inside and a neck from the leader), fifth (four-off the inside and six lengths from the leader), fourth (six-off the inside and a length from the leader), third (six-off the inside and length and a half from the leader), second (three-off the inside and a neck from the leader) and seventh (eight-off the inside and three lengths from the leader). Play That Song sat fourth the outer on settling in a good spot and strode up to lead at the 250m before going on to score by a length and a quarter in 1:10.08. Her time today of 1:10.08 was only two lengths slower to that clocked in G1 Railway for Open Class sprinters later on in the day that was run and won in 1.09.70. but it was an unusual dawdle and sprint home sprint. It was her third win in as many starts and her second Blacktype success after she won at Listed level before this G2 success today. The form of her hattrick has not really stood up since to any eyecatching levels but a couple of winners came out of this afterwards as juveniles still. More winners will come from this event as 3yo's for a variety of other reasons such as getting stronger and breeding but the main factor was the pole-axing of several early on extinguishing all hopes. Play That Song would have two runs after today for a Listed second and a G1 fourth. The runner up Australian-bred Not An Option started odds on and raced third having every possible chance whatsoever. He would go to Australia and be shown up with a distant third at G3 in a seven-horse field then a mediocre sixth of ten at G1 beaten six lengths then a shocker of a last of eighteen at G1. Not An Option on those efforts may not remain a colt such was the way he got worse by the outing in Australia but he may find being back in New Zealand meeting inferior depth could see him remain under-carriage intact. A distant third home was Tivaan Warrior beaten over five and a half lengths, which copped a check inside the first 200m and the maiden filly ran on well. The leader Amor Fati stopped to run fourth beaten almost six and a half lengths and this maiden filly caused some nasty interference inside the first 200m. American Princess, which was beaten eleven and a half lengths, was cleared to start by a pre-race vet check incredibly after rearing over behind the barriers (that never happens anymore anywhere) and then to make matters worse was found to be lame post race. She had fractured a cannon bone. Targhee was another hampered early and got beaten a dozen lengths while De La Terre got checked inside the first 200m and lost all chance. She would finish seventh and be beaten almost thirty-seven lengths Preakness was another checked early he finished last beaten thirty-seven lengths but as all those interfered with are total forgives. Tivaan Warrior would win a maiden 2yo two starts after today and De La Terre after a spell would win her next two 2yo starts. Play My Song will be stronger as a 3yo filly and has closing power plus the form out of this race will stand up okay for sure as the massive interference early affected the result greatly. The same winner and runner up would have happened regardless but after that all bets are off as to the next finishing order.
Sectional Times of ELLERSLIE - Wednesday, 01st January 2020
Previous Winners
Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WHISKEY NEAT
(AUS)
2G DENMAN (AUS) - OUIJA (AUS) VISCOUNT (AUS) |
L G INNES | 56.5 | TONY PIKE | 5 |
|
MELT
(NZ)
2F IFFRAAJ (GB) - TICKLISH (NZ) MAROOF (USA) |
M MCNAB | 54.5 | N W TILEY | 5 |
|
HASAHALO
(NZ)
2F SAVABEEL (AUS) - HALLOWEEN (AUS) ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) |
S C SPRATT | 54.5 | STEPHEN MCKEE | 6 |
|
MANOLO BLAHNIQ
(NZ)
2G JIMMY CHOUX (NZ) - FLORAMOUR (AUS) MORE THAN READY (USA) |
M CAMERON | 56.5 | CRAIG THORNTON | 2 |
|
MARKY MARK
(AUS)
2G MAKFI (GB) - MY MY MAREE (AUS) TESTA ROSSA (AUS) |
L G INNES | 56.5 | M MURDOCH | 8 |
|
MASSIVE MILLENNIUM
(AUS)
2G I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - SWEET MAGGIE (AUS) DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) |
L G INNES | 56.5 | TONY PIKE & MARK DONOGHUE | 7 |
|
GOBI RANGER
(AUS)
2G TALE OF THE CAT (USA) - BIG STEP (AUS) HONOUR AND GLORY (USA) |
J L WADDELL | 56.5 | DANICA GUY | 3 |
|
TOUGHER THAN EVER
(NZ)
2C GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS) - RATHLIN ISLAND (AUS) GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (USA) |
N RAWILLER | 56.5 | JASON BRIDGMAN | 6 |
|
ANABANDANA
(AUS)
2F ANABAA (USA) - GREAT NOTICE (USA) NUREYEV (USA) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 54.5 | D SELLWOOD | 8 |
|
CELLARMASTER
(NZ)
2G DUBAWI (IRE) - OENOLOGY (NZ) SOUND REASON (CAN) |
M T COLEMAN | 56.0 | KEVIN GRAY | 6 |
|
KATIE LEE
(AUS)
2F PINS (AUS) - MISS JESSIE JAY (NZ) SPECTACULARPHANTOM (USA) |
M T COLEMAN | 54.5 | GRAEME ROGERSON | 4 |
|
LADY ALBERTON
(NZ)
2F GOLAN (IRE) - ALBERTON STAR (NZ) STYLISH CENTURY (AUS) |
S C SPRATT | 54.5 | RICHARD YUILL & STEPHEN GOODIN | 4 |
|
GRAND DANCER
(NZ)
2C NO EXCUSE NEEDED (GB) - CLERMONT ROSE (NZ) SOUND REASON (CAN) |
R M NORVALL | 56.0 | B WALLACE | 3 |
|
CHANT
(NZ)
2F TRADITIONALLY (USA) - CHANTENAY (GB) WARNING (GB) |
L J ALLPRESS | 54.0 | ROBERT PRISCOTT | 4 |
|
PULCINELLA
(NZ)
2F STRAVINSKY (USA) - SHALL WE DANCE (NZ) DANCE OF LIFE (USA) |
N G HARRIS | 54.0 | D SELLWOOD | 7 |
|
ALINSKY
(NZ)
2G STRAVINSKY (USA) - ALYNDA (AUS) NASSAU (AUS) |
L H SATHERLEY | 55.5 | ALAN & BRETT MCDONALD | 4 |
|
MR UBIQUITOUS
(NZ)
2G TALE OF THE CAT (USA) - ZAHRA (NZ) ZAFONIC (USA) |
L A O'SULLIVAN | 55.5 | M MORONEY & A SCOTT | 5 |
|
LA RUMBA
(NZ)
2F CENTAINE (AUS) - MISS RUMBA (NZ) CITIDANCER (IRE) |
L C TILEY | 54.0 | N W TILEY | 6 |
|
FLYING BABE
(AUS)
2F FLYING SPUR (AUS) - CAST YOUR FATE (AUS) BLETCHINGLY (AUS) |
L A O'SULLIVAN | 54.0 | COLIN & RICHARD YUILL | 6 |
|
ALBERTON STAR
(NZ)
2F STYLISH CENTURY (AUS) - ALBERTON LASS (NZ) ADIOS II (GB) |
O P BOSSON | 54.0 | COLIN & RICHARD YUILL | 3 |