The first two home in this G2 3yo event over 1400m were superior at the line with Vespa getting the nostril win over the leader Passing Shot. The time of 1:21.69 ensured anything too far back had no hope as the leader did not stop and the winner from a perfect sit the outer took the length of the Trentham straight to regain that winning feeling. Vespa was winning his sixth race from eleven starts and the colt looks a sprinter only at this stage so the temptation to try a mile again may only happen under handicap conditions. Passing Shot has come solid of late and came into today with a hattrick plus he likes the Trentham track. He too looks just a sprinter at the moment. The third finisher from the trail was the filly Star O’Fraaj and she has come up a treat this year with back-to-back wins and then a valuable G2 placing today. No Tricks was a sound finisher for fourth and probably should have got the third money but her turn will come as she needs room and wind up time. Riding Shotgun was huge effort too come from last for fifth and it is amazing he does not have a better record but his racing style is the likely reason with track bias and rail movements dulling backrunners en masse. Mighty Maverick was a nice effort and he has some scope for sure but may end up in Hong Kong once the ringcraft is fully gained. Smarts Encosta was disappointing and no excuses really for the Hong Kong bound 3yo. Dramatist was poor but found to be distressed post race. Caduceus was terrible crossing the line last considering he finished third to Passing Shot resuming but has clearly gone backwards for his stable in the last two runs.
Previous Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
JOYFUL PARK
(NZ)
3C THORN PARK (AUS) - DOSH (NZ) DANSKE (NZ) |
RORY HUTCHINGS | 56.5 | TONY PIKE & MARK DONOGHUE | 3 |
|
|
NEO
(NZ)
3G ONE COOL CAT (USA) - VICKY (AUS) ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) |
O P BOSSON | 56.5 | MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN | 12 |
|
|
PRESIDENT LINCOLN
(NZ)
3G O'REILLY (NZ) - PINOT GRIS (NZ) PENTIRE (GB) |
KELLY MC CULLOCH | 56.0 | L LATTA | 5 |
|
|
BARSIDE
(NZ)
3G TOBOUGG (IRE) - CHITA RIVERA (NZ) CASUAL LIES (USA) |
L J ALLPRESS | 56.0 | TRENT BUSUTTIN | 8 |
|
|
KEYORA
(NZ)
3G BACHELOR DUKE (USA) - FAIRY LIGHTS (IRE) FAIRY KING (USA) |
H S TINSLEY | 56.0 | J R WHEELER | 5 |
|
|
SKIRMISH
(NZ)
3F LE BEC FIN (NZ) - JOLLIFY (NZ) KINGDOM BAY (NZ) |
R J HANNAM | 54.5 | A BULL | 14 |
|
|
RIOS
(NZ)
3C HUSSONET (USA) - GUSSY GODIVA (NZ) LAST TYCOON (IRE) |
D M WALSH | 56.0 | M BAKER | 7 |
|
|
JOKERS WILD
(NZ)
3C BLACK MINNALOUSHE (USA) - MISS RORY (AUS) RORY'S JESTER (AUS) |
M T COLEMAN | 56.0 | MIKE MORONEY & DEAN MELTON | 2 |
|
|
DARCI BRAHMA
(NZ)
3C DANEHILL (USA) - GRAND ECHEZEAUX (NZ) ZAFONIC (USA) |
M J WALKER | 56.0 | MARK WALKER | 4 |
|
|
HAPPEE OWNER
(NZ)
3G TOWKAY (AUS) - MAKE UP (NZ) TAKE YOUR PARTNER (AUS) |
L G INNES | 55.5 | M BAKER | 8 |
|
|
KAINUI BELLE
(NZ)
3F KASHANI (USA) - LADY UKIAH (NZ) STRAIGHT STRIKE (USA) |
N G HARRIS | 54.5 | VANESSA & WAYNE HILLIS | 8 |
|
|
SPARKLING STAR
(AUS)
3G DEFECTING DANCER (GB) - SURPRISE BOX (AUS) DAUMIER (AUS) |
L C TILEY | 56.0 | N W TILEY | 5 |
|
|
I ROCK MY WORLD
(AUS)
3G KING'S THEATRE (IRE) - MATINS (USA) SEATTLE SLEW (USA) |
D G BRADLEY | 56.0 | MICHAEL MORONEY & ANDREW CLARKEN | 2 |
|
|
SPRING RAIN
(NZ)
3F CENTAINE (AUS) - PEARL DRAGON (NZ) GROSVENOR (NZ) |
V A COLGAN | 54.5 | R JAMES | 14 |
