Trans-Tasman quests
THURSDAY’S Lowland Stakes at Hastings, won by the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsmantrained Bonneval, threw up several genuine Oaks prospects as did Saturday’s Sunline Vase at Ellerslie.
The same stable added stakes winner 15 for the season with Eleonora’s gutsy victory in the Group III race but the Makfi filly won’t be opposing her stablemate at Trentham.
The Lib Petagna and Dame Lowell Goddard-owned filly will be on plane to Sydney for the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 25.
Danielle Johnson gave her a kind trip in the Sunline, sitting outside the leader Hot Saki and she was too strong in the run to the line.
Johnson won’t be aboard in Sydney with Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver at the top of Baker’s list to take the mount as the filly heads towards the AJC Oaks.
Oliver partnered Eleonora in a four-race Melbourne spring cam- paign which produced two wins and a Crown Oaks third.
Runner-up Dreamcrafter is no certainty for a NZ Oaks run at Trentham but third placed Dame Margo Fonteyn is likely to be there.
‘‘She’s still a bit weak,’’ said Pam Gerrard who co-trains Dreamcrafter with Mike Moroney. ‘‘She’s had a couple of runs quite quickly.
‘‘We will have to see how she pulls up before making a decision.’’
Chenille confirmed Auckland Cup favouritism with her win in the Nathans Memorial (2200m) for trainer Tony Pike.
Ridden by Leith Innes, the Pentire mare co-owned by Pike’s parents Wayne and Vicki, tightened in the Cup market to outright $4 favourite for next week’s 3200m feature.
‘‘Fantastic, a very dominant win,’’ Vicki Pike said. ‘‘We’ve been happy with her all week - she just didn’t cop the track in the Avondale Cup.’’
She ran a battling seventh in the Avondale Cup on an unsuitable wet track but has obviously improved and will be the horse to TRISH DUNELL. beat next Saturday.
Graeme and Debbie Rogerson’s huge opinion of Ferrando was well and truly vindicated with his Group III Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) win and he will also be Sydney-bound.
Apprentice Ryan Elliot claimed his first Group win with Ferrando making it four wins from six starts.
‘‘He’s the making of a good horse,’’ Graeme Rogerson said. ‘‘I’ve had some good sprinters and he’s right up with them.
Ferrando will initially tackle 3-year-old company in Sydney.