This G2 at WFA 1600m only drew eight runners and was run at a sedate pace overall and saw an upset with a $20 winner in Ocean Emperor. Two of this field have never ever run at WFA before in the winner Ocean Emperor and the last finisher Meeska Mooska. Ocean Emperor came into this having won a Benchmark 85 prior so was in effect jumping three of four classes and carrying the same weight so was horrendously situated. However the current depth of WFA racing in New Zealand at the moment has never been lower or weaker so older handicappers are not scared to have a crack and they are getting results. Two of the three legs of the Hawkes Bay Spring Triple Crown this year were first time WFA attempting older horses and they in fact nearly won the slam. This 6yo gelding was today having his first start in a Blacktype race and at a mile incredibly. He sat fourth the outer in a good spot and then when angled wider the run home picked up better than the rest and despite only hitting the lead with 50m to go ended up scoring by a length and a quarter in 1:35.98. The time was slower than the race prior, a Ratings 75 (four classes or more inferior), and that is very worrying as to the credibility of this field and result. It was the sixth win in sixteen starts for Ocean Emperor that has had his health issues as such a light career shows. Miss Wilson had every chance after leading out then taking the trail and she drove though to win at the 100m but could not repel the victor. Kawi still has yet to win here and ran on well for third but after settling down last never ever looked a win chance at any stage. His finish was solid the last bit to get third on the post but for a multiple G1 winner he should put opposition away like this in his sleep. Amarula sat outside the leader and led narrowly with 100m to go before being swamped into fourth. Ronchi was away awkwardly then sped around to lead after 400m only to be overpowered the closing 100m and ended up fifth beaten over two lengths. He is not a WFA horses as that is two tries in this type of event (at G1 and now G2) for two flops. Stolen Dance was not too bad late after settling down in the rear duo and then being last turning for home. Big Dreamer was poor and Meeska Mooska was outclassed. This was not a G2 WFA field at all and a very dubious result indeed. Slowly run the middle sector especially and over half this small field are not actually WFA gallopers versus allcomers.
Previous Winners
Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ABIDEWITHME
(NZ)
7M REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - CRIMSON (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
M MCNAB | 57.0 | STEPHEN AUTRIDGE | 6 |
|
SORIANO
(NZ)
6M SAVABEEL (AUS) - CALL ME LILY (NZ) JUST A DANCER (NZ) |
G COOKSLEY | 57.0 | GRAEME & DEBBIE ROGERSON | 8 |
|
FAY FAY
(NZ)
7G FALKIRK (NZ) - GLAMAINE (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS) |
M C SWEENEY | 59.0 | TREVOR & MARTIN CRUZ | 2 |
|
SURVIVED
(NZ)
4G ZED (NZ) - LIBERAL (NZ) GENEROUS (IRE) |
O P BOSSON | 59.0 | JOHN BARY | 5 |
|
ZENNISTA
(NZ)
5M ZENNO ROB ROY (JPN) - ZARNITSA (NZ) MAROOF (USA) |
A CALDER | 57.0 | L LATTA | 6 |
|
LADY CHAPARRAL
(NZ)
5M HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - IMAGES (NZ) GLEAM MACHINE (USA) |
DANIELLE JOHNSON | 57.0 | CHRIS WOOD | 8 |
|
SALVATORE
(NZ)
6G HOWBADDOUWANTIT (USA) - JUST BERCEUSE (NZ) OREGON (USA) |
M CAMERON | 59.0 | ANNE HERBERT | 5 |
|
SIR SLICK
(NZ)
8G VOLKSRAAD (GB) - OUR MISS OPERA (NZ) PARIS OPERA (AUS) |
SAMANTHA COLLETT | 59.0 | GRAEME NICHOLSON & PAUL ALLBON | 11 |
|
SAMURAI
(NZ)
7G DAGGERS DRAWN (USA) - WAIT AND SEA (NZ) RACING IS FUN (USA) |
DAVID WALKER | 59.0 | NEIL CONNORS | 5 |
|
WHO KNOWS
(NZ)
6G CAPE CROSS (IRE) - RICAMO (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ) |
A CALDER | 59.0 | NATALIE TANNER | 5 |
|
HIGH OCTANE
(NZ)
5G TOWKAY (AUS) - TRENDY AND TRUE (AUS) PRINCE TRUE (USA) |
T N HARRIS | 59.0 | GREGOR ROBSON | 4 |
|
SIR SLICK
(NZ)
5G VOLKSRAAD (GB) - OUR MISS OPERA (NZ) PARIS OPERA (AUS) |
V D JOHNSTON | 59.0 | G NICHOLSON | 1 |
|
MILLENNIUM
(NZ)
8G PRIZED (USA) - ROYAL MED (USA) MEDIEVAL MAN (USA) |
L C TILEY | 58.0 | STEPHEN & TREVOR MCK | 4 |
|
MILLENNIUM
(NZ)
7G PRIZED (USA) - ROYAL MED (USA) MEDIEVAL MAN (USA) |
P D JOHNSON | 58.0 | STEPHEN & TREVOR MCK | 2 |
|
JUST AQUA
(NZ)
8G JUSTICE PREVAILS (AUS) - AQUILAC (NZ) CRESTED WAVE (USA) |
L C TILEY | 58.0 | GRAEME SANDERS & DEBBIE SWEENEY | 3 |
|
TIT FOR TAAT
(NZ)
5G FALTAAT (USA) - MISS KIWITEA (NZ) TRULY VAIN (AUS) |
B HIBBERD | 58.0 | W HERBERT | 6 |
|
EMERALD DREAM
(AUS)
5M DANEHILL (USA) - THEME SONG (NZ) SACKFORD (USA) |
J C COLLETT | 55.5 | M BAKER | 1 |
|
SHE'S A MEANIE
(NZ)
5M PRINCE SALIERI (AUS) - SHEKANWYN (NZ) MUSICAL PHANTASY (USA) |
L A O'SULLIVAN | 55.5 | P MILICH | 12 |