Pike filly a treasure already
Tony Pike can’t hide his regard for his Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) candidate Treasure.
‘‘I think she’s one of the best staying fillies that I’ve trained,’’ said the Cambridge conditioner, who won the 2013 edition of the Trentham classic with More Than Sacred.
‘‘We’ve always had a massive opinion of her, she’s just taken a few runs to work things out and the blinkers have helped her.’’
The subject of a hefty betting plunge, Treasure showed she was on an upward plane at New Plymouth on Saturday when she produced an impressive display to beat her stablemate Caricature in the Listed Fasttrack Insurance Oaks Prelude (1800m).
She settled midfield on the fence before rider Michael McNab angled into the clear across the top and the filly was too good in the straight, winning by two and a-half lengths.
‘‘We were pretty confident with the winner,’’ Pike said. ‘‘It’s nice when a plan comes off.
‘‘We wanted to get today out of the way and now we’ll sit down and decide whether she goes to the Lowland Stakes or the Sunline Vase before Wellington.’’
The longshot Luxe came home well from the back for third ahead of Miss Foxy Gal.
● Christopher Grace’s celebrations on Saturday were topped off in style at New Plymouth. The prominent Hunterville breeder and owner’s familiar green jacket and gold sleeves were first home in the Gr.3 Platinum Homes Taranaki Cup (1800m) after Rosie Myers guided Beefeater to victory.
‘‘It’s Christopher’s birthday today so this is a good present,’’ Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson said. ‘‘I thought the horse would be a big chance.’’
A winner two runs back, Beefeater came into the race off the back of a fourth placing in the Gr.3 Anniversary (1600m).
‘‘He came through Trentham well and he probably needed the race at Wellington after missing a run at Awapuni,’’ Bergerson said.
Beefeater has now won six of his 23 starts and a crack at the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa next Saturday is now being discussed.
● Talented youngster Bit Lippy deservedly broke through for the first victory of his fledgling career with a no nonsense performance.
The Matamata youngster had placed in each of his previous three starts, all in black type company, and he capped that winning the Gr.3 Phoenix Park
2YO Classic (1200m).