Jen Cheers in Homebred in Hastings Feature

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/1552--sp-1822192498.html layout=standard image= desc=The win by Swan Lake in the three-year-old event at Hastings yesterday had her owner, Jen Campin of Chequers Stud,... size=small}
The win by Swan Lake in the three-year-old event at Hastings yesterday had her owner, Jen Campin of Chequers Stud, literally screaming.

"I yelled so much in the final stages of the race that I hardly had any voice left afterwards," Campin said.

"It was exciting because it was such a good field of three-year-olds," she said.

"Jim is now going to set her for the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November," she said.

Jim Campin, who trains the Green Perfume filly, previously won the 1000 Guineas with Phillipa Rush (1989) and Emerald (1996).

Swan Lake was offered as a yearling at the Karaka sales but failed to make her reserve.

"The buyers didn't want her but I'm happy now to be racing her," Jen Campin said.

Media Release - TNZ

Melbourne Bound Trio Dominate Kelt Finish

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/2427--sp-1985627621.html layout=standard image= desc=Prized Gem turned in a perfect dress reahearsal for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups when she scored a scintillating win... size=small}
Prized Gem turned in a perfect dress reahearsal for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups when she scored a scintillating win in the Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings yesterday.

The Murray Baker-trained mare won New Zealand's richest race with a brilliant late burst through the field in the hands of young Queensland jockey Michael Rodd.

He was on her when she won the Brisbane Cup in June and has commuted from Australia to continue that association.

Prized Gem is due to fly to Melbourne in 9 days' time and will kick off her campaign in the Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield the following Saturday.

That weight-for-age 2000 metre event will also be on the programme of Kelt minor placegetters Distinctly Secret and Hail.

Both appeared to have their chance today but could not resist the winner's finishing burst.

Cent Home, who had been under a cloud all week with a stone bruise, faded after being in a challenging position on the home turn.

Media Release - TNZ

Russell to Shine at Matamata Meeting

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/7450--sp-1033435414.html layout=standard image= desc=Talented Woodville jockey Thomas Russell will do the bulk of the riding on the team of runners from the Stephen... size=small}
Talented Woodville jockey Thomas Russell will do the bulk of the riding on the team of runners from the Stephen Autridge-Graeme Rogerson stable at the Racing Matamata meeting on Saturday September 28.

Russell is booked to ride first starter Millennium Belle in race two at 12.20pm. "She trialled up nicely and has been working well so I expect a nice first-up run from her," said Autridge.

Millennium Belle finished second in a trial at Taupo on August 29.

Russell will also be aboard the talented three-year-old Fortello who returns to racing in race three at 12.55pm. Fortello looked well above average in his juvenile campaign which netted a win and two placings from just three appearances. He has barrier 11.

In race four Integrasea also makes a return to the racing scene after a spell with Russell in the saddle. He is far more mature this campaign and is not a horse who requires a lot of racing to bring him to his best.

Also in race four Laura Woods will be aboard stable member Lucky Alice who has been stiff not to win a race before now. She has drawn barrier 13 and looks a big hope.

In race six at 2.52pm Cinnamon Girl will have the services of Michael McNab. She has been working well and can give plenty of cheek despite a wide barrier.

In the same race Kitaro King goes in after a last-start win at Taupo and will be ridden by Laura Woods. This is a step up in class but he does have a nice light weight.

Meanwhile at the Hastings premier meeting Vinny Colgan does the bulk of the riding for the stable.

Colgan will be aboard Lady Be Wise, Legend, Deautce Express and Danceforme.

Lady Be Wise starts in race one at 12.05pm and is expected to run well although she will need some luck from a wide barrier.

Legend is making his debut in race two which is the two-year-old event. He has had no luck in the barrier draw with the 11 draw. He has been placed twice at the trials and looks a promising individual who should run well.

In race four at 1.53pm the stable's filly Deautche Express is ready to run a big race. She is all class but does have the mighty Danroad to contend with.

Danceforme lines up in race six at 3.13pm and can be relied upon for another of his consistent performances.

Diamond Cashel returns to racing in race seven after a stylish trials win at Taupo last month and should go a nice race. She will be ridden by Leith Innes.

Media Release - TNZ

Rodd's Gem Of a Ride in Kelt Captial

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/22567--sp-223027094.html layout=standard image= desc=Visiting Australian jockey Michael Rodd gained the major prize on Cambridge-trained mare Prized Gem in the $500,000 Kelt Capital Stakes... size=small}
Visiting Australian jockey Michael Rodd gained the major prize on Cambridge-trained mare Prized Gem in the $500,000 Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings on Saturday.

Prized Gem, winner of the Brisbane Cup (3200m) in June, produced a scintillating burst 200m out which saw her score comfortably from the fast-finishing Distinctly Secret.

The winning dividend was $11.20.

Prized Gem's trainer, Murray Baker, said the five-year-old mare will head over to Melbourne on Monday week.

"She will start in the Yalumba Stakes in Melbourne on October 12 and then in the Caulfield Cup a week later," Baker said.

Prized Gem's ultimate goal is the $A4 million Tooheys New Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.

Distinctly Secret is also heading for a tilt at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Media Release - TNZ

Diamond Like to Sparkle at Matamata

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/6689--sp-1004222265.html layout=standard image= desc=Beautifully-bred filly Diamond Like will be the centre of attention when she makes her debut at Matamata on Saturday. The... size=small}
Beautifully-bred filly Diamond Like will be the centre of attention when she makes her debut at Matamata on Saturday.

The Danehill-Tristalove bay, a sister to Australian Group 1 winner Viking Ruler, has won in her only public outing, at the Te Teko trials in August.

Diamond Like races in the green Cambridge Stud colours of her breeders, Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan. Although she has drawn awkwardly at barrier 15 for Saturday's 1100 metre event, trainer Paul O'Sullivan is confident that the big filly can make her presence felt.

"Provided she clears the gates I expect her to be right in it," he said. "She is a filly with a lot of natural ability and a great attitude."

In the absence of No.1 stable rider Lance O'Sullivan, who is riding at Hastings, Diamond Like will be ridden by Opie Bosson.

Media Release - TNZ

Stunning Debut by New Zealand Blue Blood

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/21382--sp-1761761455.html layout=standard image= desc=The $275,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9 is the goal for blueblood Diamond Like... size=small}
The $275,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 9 is the goal for blueblood Diamond Like (Danehill-Tristalove).

The three-year-old filly made an impressive winning debut at Matamata today in the James's Matamata TAB Maiden Three-Year-Old.

Trainer Paul O'Sullivan said Diamond Like had real gate speed which enabled her to get across to lead from the outset despite a wide barrier draw.

"She jumps and runs and we saw that today," O'Sullivan said.

Rider Opie Bosson said Diamond Like just played with her rivals in the final stages.

"She was just kidding to them. She was never at full tack," he said.

Diamond Like was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan and is the full sister to Group One Spring Champion Stakes winner Viking Ruler.

Media Release - TNZ

Barrier Blanket for Distinctly Secret

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/628--sp-1555468312.html layout=standard image= desc=Distinctly Secret will revert to using a barrier blanket when he lines up in Saturday's Group One Kelt Capital Stakes... size=small}
Distinctly Secret will revert to using a barrier blanket when he lines up in Saturday's Group One Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) at Hastings.

The four-year-old wore one last season but his trainer Mark Walker dispensed with it when he resumed at last month's Taupo trials and when he ran at Hastings two weeks ago.

"He was good as gold in the gates at the trials, but I regretted not having one on him at Hastings," said Walker. "He got up to his old trick of laying on the side of his stall and made a bad start."

Walker wants none of that at the 2040 metre barrier in Saturday's $500,000 race and has notified Hawke's Bay Racing chief executive John McGifford that he will require a blanket.

"I'll get back to them before the horse travels south tomorrow and send one down with him if necessary," said Walker, obviously mindful of the situation when only one blanket was available at Awapuni three weeks ago.

On that occasion there was no blanket available for Millennium and he had to be late scratched after injuring himself in the starting gates.

Media Release - TNZ

Danroad Disappoints at Hastings

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/13027--sp-1179324552.html layout=standard image= desc=Danroad, a $1.30 favourite, could manage only fifth in the Chequers Stud-Green Perfume Premier Trophy at Hastings today. The Danehill... size=small}
Danroad, a $1.30 favourite, could manage only fifth in the Chequers Stud-Green Perfume Premier Trophy at Hastings today.

The Danehill colt appeared to have every chance after sitting outside the leader and then taking over when the field starightened. But he had no answer over the final 250 metres, weakening badly.

The utterly appropriate winner was Swan Lake, a filly by Green Perfume bred, owned and trained by Jim Campin, principal of race sponsor Chequers Stud.

Media Release - TNZ

Logan Hopes to be Smiling

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/11970--sp-206452981.html layout=standard image= desc=Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan will have a two-fold reason for hoping smart stayer Victory Smile returns a bold fresh-up race... size=small}
Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan will have a two-fold reason for hoping smart stayer Victory Smile returns a bold fresh-up race in the open 2000m event at Ellerslie tomorrow.

One reason is that the six-year-old gelding is on trial for a tilt at the $A600,000 Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney on October 7.

She is also looking for a good performance tomorrow to ensure that she finds a suitable Australian rider for the Group One Randwick feature.

"Originally Stathi Katsidis was going to ride him in the Metropolitan but he can't make his weight (52kg for that race," Logan said.

"I've already spoken to a couple of other riders and will be talking more to them after Saturday's race," she said.

Victory Smile is also nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and will head down that path provided he races well in the Metropolitan.

The Victory Dance gelding raced well in Brisbane over the winter months recording a win in the Caloundra Cup and second placing in the Ipswich Cup.

Unfortunately he fell at his last start in the Grafton Cup but took no harm from the mishap.

Logan said Victory Smile had done the groundwork to prepare him for tomorrow's race.

"He has been back in work since the first week of August after a three-week break and he's done miles of training at the beach. He is forward enough to be competitive on Saturday provided the track is not too bad," she said.

The caretaker rider for tomorrow's race is experienced jockey Peter Johnson.

Logan will be going for back-to-back wins in the $25,000 Lindauer Guineas Trial at tomorrow's meeting.

She won the three-year-old race last year with top filly Vapour Trail. Her representative this time is another filly, Vixsun, who won last time out at Ruakaka.

"She needs a reasonable track too and if she gets it I feel she can give them a run for their money," Logan said. "We are hoping this race will give us a line on her ability."

Lee Rutherford is booked to ride Vixsun and she will also have the mount on talented stablemate Jetski who also resumes racing from a spell in the open 1400m event.

Easy Ruakaka winner Baluchi will contest the special conditions maiden 1400m race with Lance O'Sullivan to ride while other Logan-trained runners at Ellerslie will feature another last-start winner, Imperial Lord.

Media Release - TNZ

Hot Favourite Downed in Coupland Stakes

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/13112--sp-694685431.html layout=standard image= desc=There was a minor upset in today's listed Ray Coupland Stakes at Ashburton when Leeu brought about the first defeat... size=small}
There was a minor upset in today's listed Ray Coupland Stakes at Ashburton when Leeu brought about the first defeat for hot favourite Hustler.

Three previous starts had brought easy wins for the Al Akbar gelding, but in today's 1400 metre three-year-old event he had to concede by three legnths to the Mandy Brown-trained filly.

Leeu, who had been hampered badly before finishing sixth in last Saturday's Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton, is owned by Windsor Park Stud, home to her sire Volksraad.

Media Release - TNZ

Walker to Partner Tit for Taat in Melbourne

{SCPinterestShare href=https://www.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/new-zealand/12341--sp-1969052609.html layout=standard image= desc=Star apprentice Michael Walker will continue his association with Tit For Taat in Sunday's Dubai Racing Club Cup in Melbourne.... size=small}
Star apprentice Michael Walker will continue his association with Tit For Taat in Sunday's Dubai Racing Club Cup in Melbourne.

Walker, who was on the Faltaat gelding when he gave Sunline such a fight in the Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings late last month, will fly to Melbourne after riding at New Plymouth on Saturday.

Tit For Taat's trainer Wayne Herbert reports that all is well in the lead-up to the $350,000 race at Caulfield.

"He travelled over well and if everything falls into place on the day he will give them a run for their money," he said.

Media Release - TNZ