Belle du Nord Oaks chance
Favourite Savvy Coup drew wide which is a problem
Barrier draws are important in major races regardless of the distance. They may prove a vital ingredient in tomorrow’s $400,000 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
The favourite Savvy Coup came up with gate No 13, which presents Chris Johnson with a problem and the riding tactics to counteract that will be one of the features of the Group 1 classic.
At the other end of the scale — or in this case the barriers — Belle du Nord has come up with a favourable No 2. It should allow her and rider Vinny Colgan and the underrated grey filly to enjoy the run of the race.
When Belle du Nord has drawn favourably she has had the speed to take up a position and there looks to be every indication Colgan will take advantage of that option. Completely forget Belle Du Nord went around in the Lowland Stakes at Hastings as a lead-up to this race. Everything that could go wrong did. She drew wide, had to go back as a result, and could not find racing room in the home straight.
Before that a wet track brought her undone in the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic. Her barrier draws in those two races were No 10 and No 11. Leading up to the fillies classic she came out of gate No 1 in the Levin Classic, run at Trentham and finished a neck second to Age Of Fire with Savvy Coup a nose back third.
Before that again she finished half a head and three quarters of a length from Age Of Fire and equally talented Ever Loyal in a premier 3-year-old at Ellerslie.
Always difficult to tell whether 3-year-olds will run 2400m at their first attempt, but Belle du Nord gives every indication she will. She has tremendous fight in a close contest, which will be very valuable. She showed that fight in the Levin Classic, the premier Ellerslie event and when second to Melody Belle in the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes at the end of her 2-year-old campaign.
At $12 and $3.60 when the TAB posted Final Field odds yesterday she looks value compared to the $3.40 and $1.65 around Savvy Coup.
If you needed one jockey to over- come difficulty in a major race five gets you ten you would pick Chris Johnson.
If there is one quality that trumps Johnson’s tactics it is his refusal to be bustled.
In a tough staying race, which this will be, that can be invaluable and if you’re prepared to take the shorts around Savvy Coup, he will do his best for you.
On form Contessa Vanessa ($8 and $2.70) has to be considered, but she has drawn gate No 16 and Jonathan Parkes will be responsible for overcoming that headache. She has proven very tough late in her races and gives every indication of being one of the few that will manage the 2400m.
Treasure is held in high regard by trainer Tony Pike and is a filly with an enormous future. She fair bolted in at Taranaki two back and had no luck late in the race in the Lowland Stakes.
A win by Belle du Nord would be a reward for the filly’s courage at the coalface and reward for Vinny Colgan, who missed the winning ride on Ladies First in last weekend’s Auckland Cup because of suspension.