Another round for Whiskey Neat
Karaka Million favourite Whiskey Neat will head back to Ellerslie before the $1 million dash for cash but it won’t be on raceday.
The rangy juvenile remained unbeaten leading throughout to justify warm favouritism in the Eclipse Stakes on Tuesday but gave punters a few nervous moments when changing legs and goofing around in the home straight.
Which is one reason trainer Tony Pike will take him back to Auckland headquarters for a reconnaissance mission before the massive Million meeting on January 26.
“With three and a half weeks until the race he won’t be racing again beforehand,” said Pike.
“He will have an easy week to 10 days now and the timing works perfectly heading into the Million.
“But I think another look at Ellerslie might do him some good so we will take him up there for a track gallop about a week out, whenever the club opens the track for horses racing that night.
“We did that with him and Bostonian about two weeks ago and it helped him on Tuesday but we also galloped very wide that day whereas I am hoping we will be able to gallop him up against the rail next time.” While runner-up Aotea Lad got close to Whiskey Neat with his charging finish on Tuesday, Pike believes his $220,000 Karaka purchase had more up his sleeve once rider Leith Innes was able to get him back in the right leg. “I thought whoever won that race would be the Karaka Million favourite as it was very strong.”
Innes has been confirmed as Whiskey Neat’s pilot for the Karaka Million.
Pike has only had a couple of Karaka Million starters for no joy but Whiskey Neat heads the futures market opened yesterday at $2.80 in front of Aotea Lad at $4.60 with Probabeel at $4.80.
Probabeel and several of the key Million contenders who didn’t race on Tuesday are likely to have their final lead-ups at Ellerslie on January 13 in the race Avantage won last season on her way to Karaka Million glory.
While Pike thinks an Ellerslie gallop will iron out any kinks in Whiskey Neat’s armour heading into the big day, he is scratching his head a bit more over Bostonian’s struggling seventh in the $200,000 Sistema Railway on Tuesday.
He was given a beautiful ride by Vinnie Colgan but never quickened in the home straight and will have the standard vet examination. “I’m not really expecting to find too much wrong with him but he is definitely better than that,” offers Pike.
“He dipped a bit at the 600m and whether he did something to himself then we will find out but we have no real excuses at this stage.” Bostonian remains in the market for the Telegraph at Trentham on January 19 but could also stay closer to home for the Brighthill Farm Concorde at Ellerslie on Karaka Million night.
“That is another option then heading into the 1400m weight-for-age at Te Rapa in February, which I actually think is a better distance for him.”
While Auckland Guineas winner Surely Sacred is one of the favourites for the Levin Classic at Trentham on January 12, Pike says he is very unlikely to head there.
“His next main aim is the Karaka Million Classic so I doubt very much we will end up at Trentham with him.”
Surely Sacred is the $8 equal fourth favourite for the Levin Classic with Madison County the dominant $2.80 market leader.