SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2014
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PERFECT DRESS REHEARSAL LEADS TO
ANOTHER WINNING ROLE ON BIG STAGE
In a repeat of last week’s prelude, Perfect Start (#5) surges past Dubai Belle to win the Manawatu Cup at yesterday’s Awapuni meeting.
T
he more things change, the more they stay the same
rang true at Awapuni yesterday when the travelling
road show known as Perfect Start (NZ) (Perfectly
Ready) returned another handsome result.
Race
Manawatu RC Manawatu Cup Gr.3 2300m
Winner
Perfect Start (NZ) 2009
Owners
G & Mrs S Bluett and J F Marks
Trainer
Wayne Hillis (Matamata)
Breeding
by Perfectly Ready (Aus) out of Artemesia by
Peintre Celebre (USA)
G & Mrs S Bluett, G G Syndicate Ltd and J F
Marks
Breeder
Matamata trainer Wayne Hillis was initially reluctant to run
the mare on last weekend’s opening day of the Manawatu
meeting but with limited options available to him he headed
south and the mare triumphed in the Manawatu Cup Prelude.
“I didn’t really want to run her last week and would have
preferred to run her up our way rather than make two trips,”
Hillis said. “But there was only a mile.”
And so Perfect Start was back in town again for the Group
Three Hotel Coachman Manawatu Cup and she followed up
her perfect dress rehearsal with a faultless back-up display to
again hold centre stage at Dubai Belle’s expense.
Continued on page 3
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SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2014
PERFECT DRESS REHEARSAL LEADS TO
ANOTHER WINNING ROLE ON BIG STAGE
(Continued from page 1)
Perfect Start is a relative newcomer to distance racing and
stepped up over ground during her five-start Queensland
campaign earlier this year, with her best effort a fifth in the
Group Three Premier’s Cup at Doomben.
“We first tried her over ground when we took her to
Australia but she didn’t have a lot of luck there,” Hillis said.
Perfect Start’s Awapuni success now guarantees her a start
in the Group Three City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New
Year’s Day.
CHAMPION 2010 (IT.)
CHAMPION 2011 (IT.)
CHAMPION 2012 (GB.)
GROUP ONE WINNER
The five-year-old was again ridden by Sam Spratt and they
were too strong for the free-going Dubai Belle (NZ) (E Dubai),
who had also finished runner-up in the cup prelude.
“I got a nice sit behind them and she really impressed me
the way she finished off,” Spratt said.
“She can race handy or come from behind and she’s a nice
cups’ mare.”
- STOP PRESS
Half brother
Crackerjack King
now a GROUP
ONE performer
in Australia
PROVEN INTERNATIONAL
SIRE LINE
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SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2014
CRAIG BACK IN LANCE’S GOOD BOOKS
C
raig Grylls was delighted to repay the faith shown
in him by the connections of Pure Champion
(Footstepsinthesand) yesterday when he redeemed
himself aboard the former Hong Kong galloper at Awapuni,
successfully completing the transition from villain to hero
with a perfect ride to claim the Group Three Kamada Park
Manawatu Challenge Stakes.
Grylls had been criticised for his performance aboard the
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Pure Champion
when well beaten in the Group One Captain Cook Stakes at
Trentham earlier this month.
Former champion jockey O’Sullivan said it was a poor
front-running ride but he was confident the same mistakes
wouldn’t be made at Awapuni and remained loyal to the
24-year-old.
Race
Manawatu RC Manawatu Challenge S. Gr.3
1400m
Winner
Pure Champion (Ire) 2007
Owners
L A O'Sullivan ONZM, Mrs B R O'Sullivan, D J
O'Sullivan OBE and Mrs L M A O'Sullivan
Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott (Matamata)
Trainer
Breeding
Breeder
by Footstepsinthesand (GB) out of Castara
Beach (Ire) by Danehill (USA)
Dr D Harron
Grylls settled Pure Champion outside the leader and when
asked for another gear in the run home the Irish-bred eightyear-old proved superior.
“We sat down and went through the tapes and I’ve got to
thank Wexford Stables,” Grylls said. “They have supported me
a lot and it’s good to repay them with a win like this.
“We got the drop on the leader and he had a good kick –
the old boy dug really deeply.”
Pure Champion wore down the front-running favourite
Diademe (NZ) (Savabeel) in the closing 150 metres with
Ginner Hart (NZ) (Volksraad) giving an improved performance
for third.
“We got him out of the birdcage early today to help settle
him and get him in the right frame of mind,” Scott said. “It’s a
great team effort and a really satisfying win.”
Pure Champion’s immediate future has yet to be
confirmed with his owners, the O’Sullivan family, to have a
round table discussion to formulate a plan.
Diademe was excellent in her first appearance since a
lengthy injury-forced break while Ginner Hart’s effort was also
pleasing after his below-par run when unplaced in the Listed
Levin Stakes.
Craig Grylls sits up in appreciation as Pure Champion successfully ends his length-of-the-straight battle with Diademe.
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SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2014
STOLEN DANCE TO TAKE ON A SERIOUS
STAYING PROGRAMME AFTER MILE WIN
Too strong over the mile for her fellow three-year-olds, Stolen Dance gives Sam Spratt the first of two feature-race wins.
B
lack type filly in waiting Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa)
is racing up to every expectation held of her by
Te Rapa trainer David Greene, the three-year-old a
deserved winner of the Rich Hill Stud 3YO Premier at Awapuni
yesterday to earn herself a crack at higher honours.
“She’s done everything as well as she possibly could up
to this stage and the further she goes the better she will be,”
Greene said.
Stolen Dance will get an opportunity in the near future to
show her ability over more ground and will contest the Group
Two Royal Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, provided she
comes through her Awapuni trip well.
“Then there’s the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic at Te Rapa in
Race
Manawatu RC Rich Hill Stud H. 1600m
Winner
Stolen Dance (NZ) 2011
Owners
G L Day, A J Dobbyn, D J, D R, Mrs J C & S J
McLeod, K G Mitchell, Mrs J J, Mrs M A, P W & T
W Rogers, G A Shand and A Swales
David Greene (Te Rapa)
Trainer
Breeding
Breeder
by Alamosa out of Songbird by Black
Minnaloushe (USA)
B G & Miss J C Rogers
February and hopefully on to the Oaks,” Greene said.
He is confident the daughter of Alamosa, who was a
debut winner before a luckless fourth at Ellerslie, can master
2400 metres and yesterday provided ample evidence of her
courage.
Caught wide early from an outside barrier before settling
outside the leader then hitting the front halfway down the
straight, Stolen Dance answered every pressure call from rider
Sam Spratt to hold her challengers at bay in the closing 200
metres.
“She had to work early and I wasn’t going to be as handy
as that,” Spratt said. “But she jumped well and put herself right
there.
“It was a very tough effort and with the trip here the
education is only going to make her a better filly.”
Nymph Monte (NZ) (Tavistock) turned his form around
after failing to beat a runner home at his previous start at
Trentham with a late finish for second.
Highland Park (NZ) (Volksraad) wilted on his run for third
after having every possible chance and the pacemaker Joby
(NZ) (No Excuse Needed) stuck on gamely for fourth.
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SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2014
STRATA’S KARAKA TICKET CLIPPED
A
combination of natural talent and professionalism
has booked Strata Lady (NZ) (Stratum) a shot at the
country’s biggest pot of racing gold next month.
The precocious youngster was sent out a dominant
favourite in yesterday’s McEntee Event Hire 2YO Premier at
Awapuni and she dispatched a small field with a minimum of
fuss.
“The Karaka Million is where she’s going and I’m sure she’s
mature enough,” said co-trainer Andrew Scott, who prepares
Strata Lady with Lance O’Sullivan at Matamata.
“It’s a really encouraging start to her career and it’s
exciting to have her in the field.”
Race
Manawatu RC McEntee Event Hire 2YO H.
1100m
Winner
Strata Lady (NZ) 2012
Owners
A F Abel ONZM and Mrs C I Abel
Trainer
Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott (Matamata)
Breeding
by Stratum (Aus) out of Estermate (Aus) by
Octagonal
Letmar Investments Pty Ltd
Breeder
Sales
2014 National Yearling Sale, Premier Session; V:
Cambridge Stud, P: Wexford Stables; $40,000
Strata Lady banked $12,500 for her connections from her
debut victory to put her sixth in order of entry to the Listed
$1 million dash at Ellerslie on January 25.
“She’s taken in everything so well and showed a kick,”
Scott said. “It was a nice ride and Craig looked after her in the
straight.
“She’s really professional and definitely going the right
way – it was beautiful to watch.”
Strata Lady was first out of the gates to dispute the pace
and she lengthened stride effortlessly when asked for a
serious effort by Craig Grylls early in the run home.
“She’s very smart and showed a lot in her trials,” Grylls
said. “She stood in the gates well, got out quickly and she did
everything perfectly after that. She’s a very nice filly.”
Strata Lady had finished third behind the unbeaten duo of
Rocanto and Windborne in her first trial at Te Awamutu and
then won at Rotorua last month.
The filly has a pedigree to back her two-year-old claims as
a daughter of the Group One Golden Slipper winner Stratum
and a direct female descendant of the Group One Blue
Diamond Stakes winner Midnight Fever.
Craig Grylls and Strata Lady are effortless winners in one of the best juvenile debuts of the season.
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SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2014
FLOATMYBOAT BACK IN WINNING FORM
No excuses needed this time as Floatmyboat earns a crack at the Chester Manifold Stakes with this Flemington win.
Y
esterday’s return to winning form at Flemington by
Floatmyboat (NZ) (Pins) is set to prolong the gelding’s
summer campaign.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained galloper bounced back from
two unplaced runs to notch his first win in almost a year in
the 1420 metre Chanteclair Handicap and is now likely to run
in next month’s Chester Manifold Stakes.
Griffiths was convinced Floatmyboat was building towards
a win earlier this campaign after seconds at Cranbourne and
Bendigo in October but the five-year-old then disappointed
at his next two starts, finishing sixth at Flemington and ninth
at Sandown two weeks ago.
Race
VRC Chanteclair H. 1420m
Winner
Floatmyboat (NZ) 2009
Owners
Dirty Downs Racing (Mgr: J Gay), Balcony Two
(Mgr: D Simpson), Dirty Dozen (Mgr: J Gay), N
Blake, S Frost, O Kysela, N Leyden, D Hunter
and P Johnson
Robbie Griffiths (Cranbourne)
Trainer
Breeding
Breeder
Sales
by Pins (Aus) out of Julie’s Sailboat (USA) by
Naevus (USA)
Fairdale Stud (2007) Ltd
2011 National Yearling Sale, Premier Session; V:
Fairdale Stud, P: Mr R D Griffiths; $110,000
Griffiths said the horse had excuses for those failures but
insisted the gelding had to perform yesterday otherwise he
would be spelled.
Jockey Ryan Maloney settled back with a three-wide trail
on the $12 chance before working into the race rounding the
home turn.
Floatmyboat hit the front half-way up the straight and
went on to score by a length over She’s Clean (Redoute’s
Choice) with Hero Master (Masterprint) third.
“He came here on Oaks day and was disappointing,”
Griffiths said. “He didn’t run the 1600 metres that day but he
did jar up and his joints were quite inflamed.
“He went to Sandown with a month between runs and he
disappointed us there – but he didn’t scope that clean after
the race.
“So we’ve come off two negative runs with veterinary
reasons and today was D-day. If he didn’t fire it was back to
the paddock.”
Griffiths said the 1400 metre Chester Manifold, run at
Flemington on January 17, was at the ideal distance.
“That is his distance,” he said. “Any further and he
struggles.”
– AAP TURF
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SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2014
BASCULE RETURNS A SMARTER COLT
C
raig Williams celebrated his first winner for the Chris
Waller stable when Bascule (NZ) (Thorn Park) scored
in the 1420 metre Primacy Handicap at Flemington
yesterday.
The hoop, who has had only a handful of rides for Sydney’s
premier trainer, admitted he didn’t have too many options
from the poor draw when he settled back in the field and he
was pleased with the way the colt attacked the line to score
his third straight win.
Race
VRC Primacy H. 1420m
Winner
Bascule (NZ) 2011
Owners
Woppitt Bloodstock (Mgr: Mrs D N Kepitis),
Mrs L F Huddy, I Bruce, G L Huddy, R Smith, B L
Mathieson, K H Warriner, J T C Lake, F W Cook,
Mrs C M Cook, Magic Bloodstock Racing (Mgr: P
G Tighe) and G G Ltd (Mgr: G G Peterson)
Chris Waller (Rosehill)
Trainer
Breeding
Breeder
Sales
by Thorn Park (Aus) out of Alberton Princess by
Golan (Ire)
Mrs R Kerr-Taylor and Mrs A K Storey
2013 National Yearling Sale, Premier Session;
V: Mapperley Stud Ltd, P: Chris Waller Racing;
$160,000
“He raced really kindly, got around the track really good
then had a very good last 600 metres. It was very impressive,”
Williams said of the 1¼ length win against a field containing
six runners with previous-start wins and three others with
wins two starts back.
“It looks like the horse has mentally really come on from
his first couple of preparations,” Williams said.
Brian McGrath, representing the Waller stable, echoed the
view of Williams as he said the colt would derive great benefit
from the race.
McGrath said the stable wanted the horse ridden quietly
given it was his first start since mid-August.
“He was down to run at Moonee Valley in late November
but we were not a hundred per cent happy with him.
“He was probably fitter than we thought but he’s going to
come on a lot from that.”
McGrath said Bascule was starting to put together a nice
profile and expected the colt to stay in Melbourne.
“There are some other nice benchmark races that will suit
him down here,” he said.
– AAP TURF & TVN
Three-year-old Bascule returns to racing after a spring break with this comprehensive win against his age group.
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