A lustre for Desert Gold
The Lustre’s ability to run a strong mile got her the nod for a trip away.
The Group I performer will run in Saturday’s Group III Metroclad-Terracade Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham while stablemate The Sparkle has stayed closer to home for the Liquorland Gore Guineas (1335m).
‘‘The Lustre has showed she’s going to be suited by the longer trip, the other filly has got more speed,’’ said Robert Dennis, who trains with his father Tony and his uncles Joe, Martin and Ray.
The Lustre finished third in the Group I New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring and in one subsequent start she was unplaced at Wingatui on Boxing Day after an interrupted run.
‘‘Initially, I was a bit disappointed but she wasn’t tuned right up and it was quite a strong rating 75 field against older horses.
‘‘She’s travelled well and had a canter around Trentham this morning. She’s a bright and happy horse.’’
Meanwhile, close relation The Sparkle is in top order for the Gore Guineas.
‘‘She’s got good gate speed and the tight, turning track will suit her,’’ Dennis said. ‘‘I’m quite confident with her.’’
The Sparkle finished runner-up last time out at Wingatui behind the highly-regarded colt Sensei, who runs in Saturday’s Group I JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m).
‘‘She had a good blow afterwards so she’s improved since then,’’ Dennis said.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand Horse of the Year Dundeel was successful on debut and his first winner as a sire has now followed suit.
By High Chaparral, Dundeel won at Ellerslie as a juvenile to kick-start a glittering career that netted six Group I victories subsequent to his retirement to Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales.
Dundeel’s son Cutadeel, who is trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, emulated his sire at the first time of asking on Friday when he triumphed in the Matamata Veterinary Services two-year-old (1200m) at Tauranga.
‘‘It’s obviously a great result for Murray, who trained Dundeel,’’ Forsman said.
Cutadeel had placed in both of his lead-up trials, the second of them at Cambridge last month in the hands of Jonathan Riddell, who retained the mount at Tauranga.
They settled in second spot and the gelding finished determinedly in the straight to beat his stablemate Thomas Aquinas.
‘‘There was plenty in his trials to encourage us,’’ Forsman said. ‘‘I’m not sure he’s a natural two-year-old type, but he is a really nice horse.’’
He was also thrilled with the debut effort of Thomas Aquinas, who finished on well under rider Matt Cameron.
‘‘I felt a bit sorry for him, he hasn’t had much exposure going this way around (clockwise),’’ Forsman said.