Whiskey Neat could be ideal tonic
Today’s Ellerslie assignment a major step up but 10-length win on debut points to a galloper of rare ability
Whiskey Neat might fit as the hair of the dog at Ellerslie today. Punters waking up slightly lacklustre after enthusiastic New Year’s Eve partying and punting might find the perfect tonic for putting some bounce back into their step in the group three Barneswood Farm Eclipse Stakes (1200m).
The Tony Pike-trained two-yearold went to another gear when asked to quicken at Otaki on debut, easily cruising clear of his rivals to score by a runaway 101⁄4 lengths.
There’s little doubt today’s stakes assignment is another step up, the Denman gelding facing up to laststart group two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) winner Aotea Lad and last-start Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) winner Exuberant.
But on what Whiskey Neat produced on debut, there’s little doubt he’s a galloper of rare ability.
To get some gauge on how he measures up to Aotea Lad can be taken through a couple of horses both have met.
Cinzento finished second to Whiskey Neat at Otaki, beaten 101⁄4 lengths, before finishing fourth to Aotea Lad, though only beaten 21⁄2 lengths, while Aretha finished third in the Wakefield, beaten a length, having won a trial the same day as Whiskey Neat at Cambridge but in 0.6s — or just over three lengths — slower.
However, on comparative times on the day, Aotea Lad fares better. On a slow Trentham track, he ran 1m 04.86s for 1100m, a time which ranked favourably with other races on the same day, while Whiskey Neat ran 59.07s for 1000m on a dead track on a day when the open sprinters ran 1200m in 1m 07.46s, just 8.39s slower, albeit it was the speedy mare Gift Of Power winning.
Those comparisons can only be used as guides, and what can’t be measured in times or margins is how much Whiskey Neat had left in the tank at Otaki or the improvement any of the runners have taken since their last runs. Still, it’s a compelling race on a super card.
The group two Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) looks an even contest and though drawing a wide gate, Surely Sacred looks a progressive three-year-old set to give More Wonder a good run.
Boxing Day’s Eight Carat Classic winner Pinmedown shoots for a group two double in the Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m) and her rematch with House Of Cartier should be a good clash, though the likes of Elate, Imelda Mary and Secret Allure all have claims.
Despite a wide barrier, The Good Fight looks the horse to beat in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2200m), while the group two Rich Hill Mile looks an open affair, with last start group two Cal Isuzu Stakes winner Belle Du Nord a leading contender alongside the likes of Contessa Vanessa, Love Affair and Tiptronic.
At $16, Tiptronic looks an attractive bet. Sixth in this race last year, he has gone on to be group two-placed at 1600m and was third to Love Affair in the group three Eagle Technology Stakes at Ellerslie last month, beaten 13⁄4 lengths. There’s a 5.5kg swing in his favour today.
Last-start Waikato Cup winner Mongolian Marshal looks a worthy favourite in the group three Pencarrow Stud City Of Auckland Cup (2400m) but he’s not so well in at the weights against Five To Midnight this time, and lightweights Andoyas and Terra Sancta deserve respect.
A wide draw for favourite Melody Belle has opened up the group one Sistema Railway (1200m) and while she still ranks as the horse to beat, the chances of Bostonian and Gift Of Power have received a boost. Don’t write off Stratocaster as a bolter booming home late.