The WFA depth in New Zealand is at an all time low despite local ratings for some reason saying otherwise but the changing and unflattering results are proving otherwise. This G1 WFA for all comers at the mile could only draw a paltry eight runners and whether any of these are anything but domestic top liners is almost certain. The winner Shuka won this race last year in a tight finish and did it again but he would be G3 at best outside New Zealand and that would be on the proviso the field was weak. He is big and strong and honest but narrowly beat the deadheaters for second in Nashville and Puccini. Nashville, which tried the G1 Emirates in 2013 under 55kg and finished tenth albeit not totally disgraced, has been an enigma this season and is still to win. Puccini was found out as a 3yo in Sydney last season and is still this time in to score in an Open WFA event. Shuka had not won a race since this same event a year ago where he beat Viadana (exposed big time in several starts in Australia) and today he clocked 1:37.53 and that is a pathetic time. One race before Sanasar, an all the way winner of a Ratings 85, clocked 1:36.29 or ran seven lengths superior. There was no pace in the G1 feature today and no depth. The unusual thing is the leader, runner outside the leader and the third on settling runner all missed paying a dividend even though it was a tepid overall time. Julinsky Prince, which is not really a G1 or WFA performer and more a wet track handicapper, finished fourth after racing third the outer throughout. I Do was weak in fifth after sitting outside the leader and needs cover it seems to put in plus whether she is absolute top shelf in New Zealand at WFA is still in question. The races at Hastings over the Spring Triple Crown have been shown up since as well below par and not trustable. I Do won a leg and was placed in another, with her conqueror being Pure Champion and it was poor today weakening to second last after leading. Pure Champion led but rider Craig Grylls could not get the old Hong Kong galloper to come back underneath him but also finding nothing once headed the run home was a surprise too like I Do weakening. Maybe he needs cover like the mare. Survived was terrible again and there is no middle ground with this galloper as he either goes big or appalling. The one runner that could be followed with some confidence for the rest of the season is Weregoingtogetcha in finishing sixth beaten two and a half lengths. It was his first go at G1 under WFA versus all comers and after looking flat halfway up the Trentham run home he got his second wind late and found the line. Logic says the pair of 4yos from this, Puccini and Weregoingtogetcha, are the only runners with scope as the rest are either too old to improve, not good enough or are domestically overrated. A more than dubious race and result with its G1 rating surely under intense pressure as not a serious race anymore despite being moved all over the place. None of these are G1 level outside New Zealand and so it is a domestic G1 result that cannot be taken too seriously owing to the form and age of many in the small line up. This race has become the consolation prize for those that could not cut it over the Sprint Triple Crown at Hastings and when you consider this year was a very week carnival indeed it does not augur well for anything. Costume won the last leg of the Triple Crown and was demolished in her lone Melbourne run and the other two legs went to I Do and Pure Champion. New Zealand currently has 22 G1 races a season, which is the same as Japan under the JRA season, if you want proof of what a reality check is and means. G1 racing needs to be elevated and made prestigious on a pedestal where it is the pinnacle of the sport. Dilution and having too many for the sake of it should be shunned internationally as it highlights a total lack of depth and therefore trustable form.
Previous Winners
Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SHUKA
(NZ)
5G BACHELOR DUKE (USA) - ALABAMA ROSE (NZ) CAPE CROSS (IRE) |
DANIELLE JOHNSON | 59.0 | PETER & DAWN WILLIAMS | 3 |
|
FINAL TOUCH
(NZ)
5M KASHANI (USA) - MY LYDIA (AUS) UMATILLA (NZ) |
C W JOHNSON | 57.0 | J F PARSONS | 7 |
|
MUFHASA
(NZ)
7G PENTIRE (GB) - SHEILA CHEVAL (NZ) MI PREFERIDO (USA) |
S C SPRATT | 59.0 | STEPHEN MCKEE | 2 |
|
WE CAN SAY IT NOW
(AUS)
3F STARCRAFT (NZ) - WE CAN'T SAY THAT (NZ) GENEROUS (IRE) |
L J ALLPRESS | 51.0 | MURRAY & BJORN BAKER | 15 |
|
EKSTREME
(NZ)
4M EKRAAR (USA) - CASHCADE (NZ) ANZIYAN (USA) |
O P BOSSON | 57.0 | BRYCE REVELL | 9 |
|
DEZIGNA
(NZ)
9G VOLKSRAAD (GB) - LABEL BASHER (NZ) CONQUISTAROSE (USA) |
T N HARRIS | 59.0 | VANESSA HILLIS | 7 |
|
DORABELLA
(NZ)
4M POSTPONED (USA) - CASERIO (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ) |
H S TINSLEY | 56.0 | HOWIE & LORRAINE MATHEWS | 5 |
|
JURYS OUT
(NZ)
7G FALTAAT (USA) - TARANTIA (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ) |
M T COLEMAN | 59.0 | D & S HAWORTH | 10 |
|
HURRAH
(NZ)
4G BAHHARE (USA) - SHOCK ATTACK (NZ) INVITING (IRE) |
H S TINSLEY | 57.0 | SHANE KENNEDY & RICKY CARSTON | 5 |
|
RODIN
(NZ)
7G MASTERPIECE (AUS) - FINE DECISION (AUS) AVEROF (GB) |
D G BRADLEY | 58.5 | K ZIMMERMAN | 2 |
|
PENNY GEM
(NZ)
4M PENTIRE (GB) - GEMSCAY (AUS) MAIZCAY (AUS) |
M T COLEMAN | 54.5 | M MORONEY & A SCOTT | 13 |
|
TIT FOR TAAT
(NZ)
5G FALTAAT (USA) - MISS KIWITEA (NZ) TRULY VAIN (AUS) |
M J WALKER | 58.5 | W HERBERT | 8 |
|
ELEVENSES
(NZ)
5M STAR WAY (GB) - CELTIC JOY (NZ) SIR TRISTRAM (IRE) |
L G INNES | 56.0 | GRAEME & DEBBIE SANDERS | 11 |
|
HELLO DOLLY
(NZ)
6M MI PREFERIDO (USA) - DRAMBUIE (NZ) RED TEMPO (NZ) |
B S HERD | 56.0 | B WILLS | 1 |
|
CINDER BELLA
(NZ)
5M VICTORY DANCE (IRE) - LUCKY JEWEL (NZ) LUCKY RING (IRE) |
L A O'SULLIVAN | 56.0 | K ZIMMERMAN | 6 |