Take the winning road to riches
Abbey Road due a change of fortune in opening event which will provide impetus early to your punting bank
Put relatively big money on the line and you will get competitive racing with unlucky runners. Abbey Road was one of those at Trentham last Saturday.
Abbey Road ( No 1, R1) literally kicks off Trentham's biggest day of the year this afternoon and while Meatloaf thought t wo out of three ain't bad, we'd like to think three number ones would be more appropriate here.
Abbey Road found himself near the back of the field after 200m a week ago and when Jonathan Parkes looked for gaps after rounding the home bend there were none. The inform runner found clear air very late and finished off into fifth in the closing few strides.
He can race handier than last week and if he can do that here to relatively take luck out of the equation he should be difficult to contain in the closing stages.
In the main race, the $ 250,000 Berkett Telegraph, the hugely talented Start Wondering ( No 1, R8) has a huge job ahead under joint topweight of 58kg. But he can do it. He can run slick sectionals, staying handy and kicking hard late off a fast pace, the type of horse that is difficult to get past in any race. He is up 2.5kg for winning Ellerslie's Railway and although not a massive horse in terms of height, he is extremely strong and will shoulder his weight well. He will give it his all for his trainers Evan and JJ Rayner and is the safest each- way bet.
The dangers look to be Perfect Fit ( No 3), second in the Railway, Australian sprinter Odyssey Moon ( No 4) and fresh runner Luna Rossa ( No 18). Perfect Fit meets Start Wondering 2.5kg better this time and that has to make some difference on the 1.3 lengths that separated them at Ellerslie. Luna Rossa is probably more a 1400 to 1600m type, but she has not raced since October and in a fresh state can figure here in a race that can often suit horses roaring home.
She won a 935m trial quite easily at Cambridge recently after receiving all favours in running. Matt Cameron has taken the ride at 52.5kg, significantly below the weight he can normally ride at. Odyssey Moon won the group three Standish at Flemington on January 1, a bold guide to this and his Melbourne- based jockey Noel Callow was keen to make the trip to ride him. An extremely interesting race.
Even if the $ 250,000 Wallaceville Estate Wellington Cup is not the best 3200m re- run we have seen, it will be an extremely competitive race.
There is strong staying form from many runners. One is Jacksstar ( No 4, R10) along with last year's winner of this race, Mister Impatience ( No 2), the only 3200m winner in the field. Jacksstar won here over the metric two miles on December 3 and is as rock hard as trainer Gary Vile can get him and at yesterday's TAB Final Field odds of $ 7.50 and $ 2.80 he looks great each- way value.
There are 10 horses that could win this without causing an eyebrow to raise. Bloodstream ( No 3) has strong claims. He was making ground nicely four lengths behind Sampson over 2100m on this track a week back. He is a dour stayer and will be suited by the 3200m. Alinko Prince ( No 7) was bombed late by Jacksstar on December 3 and meets that horse 3kg better this time. Fanatic ( No 7) was a fraction below expectations at Ellerslie last start and she was then found to have fibrillated.
Her two best runs have been like this left- handed track and she could surprise. She has as much ability as anything in this field.
Difficult to believe Farrando ( No 2, R4) took any harm from his freshup Thames victory. He jumped and ran and did not have to be ridden out to score by 3.5 lengths. He is a magnificent type and although Thames to a premier 3YO event is a huge jump, he could well be up for it.
Crookshanks ( No 14, R5) would not be at Trentham if trainer Chris McNab was not happy she is forward enough to resume. She made an impression in the spring and is one who can finish off strongly, which should suit this race. Classy horseman Jason Waddell takes the ride.
Sin To Win ( No 4, R6) should have won at Ruakaka last start. It was a reasonably strong R65 field and he should be well placed in this line- up from his inside barrier.
The danger could be another northerner Nymph ( No 17). Her Ellerslie special conditions win last start was phenomenal. She came from last and powered past them late. Trentham's big wide spaces should suit her perfectly.
Rock On ( No 4, R9) is entitled to favouritism after a solid run of form. He is a stayer with a real future and the step to 2400m will not faze him. He looks beautifully placed on 54.5kg.
There is a tendency to shy away from horse with 60kg and more, but the 60.5kg All Roads ( No 1, R11) is not too far up from the weights the main chances will carry. He was just beaten in group company at Ellerslie and he could be too good here.
O’Rachael – Trentham ( R4). ( Heroic Valour – 2nd).
Abbey Road – Trentham ( R1). ( Abbey Road – unplaced).
It’s Time For Magic – Trentham ( R4). ( Olympic – unplaced). Terri Rae has one reservation about Bloodstream’s chances in the Wellington Cup today. “He’s settled in well at Otaki and is working and eating well,” the Riccarton trainer said. “He’s very clean- winded and has done plenty of work. The only hiccup is that we hadn’t expected him to be carrying 58.5kg in the Wellington Cup.” Twice successful during the NZ Cup carnival, Bloodstream ran on for seventh in the Trentham Stakes last Saturday after being forced to drop to the back of the field. “He usually races reasonably handy, but the 2100m start at Trentham is close to the bend and we didn’t want to risk him being caught three- wide,” Rae said. Speedy 3- year- old Saracino is set to anchor a two- pronged Lib Petagna attack on next month's NRM Sprint ( 1400m) at Te Rapa. The Per Incanto colt, set to be joined by Sofia Rosa in the weight- for- age feature, warmed up for his pending autumn campaign with a dominant trial win at Te Aroha on Tuesday. “It was an outstanding trial by Saracino,” leading jockey Matthew Cameron said. “I haven't ridden a horse with that much power in a while.” The Stephen Marshtrained Sofia Rosa has been freshened since a fruitless Melbourne spring campaign. Petagna will shoot for back- to- back Australian Oaks wins with Eleonora, another to win impressively at Te Aroha on Tuesday. New Zealand- bred Shadow Prince steps into the black type arena for the first time on Saturday in the listed Hobart Guineas. The Dalghar 3- yearold travelled to Tasmania for the 2100m feature following a four- length win over 2025m at Cranbourne last month. Thomas Sadler, who has been on board the grey at his last two starts, retains the ride on the Mick Pricetrained gelding. Talented 3- year- old Astara has gone for a break with the chance of an overseas trip to follow later in the year. “She’s gone to the paddock and she may well end up going to Brisbane later on,” co- trainer Donna Logan said. A dual stakes winner, Astara ran fifth in the NZ 1000 Guineas in the spring and she was then freshened for the Railway Stakes. The daughter of Dalghar was unplaced against the older horses in the Ellerslie feature from an outside gate, but only five lengths from the winner. Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will lift their sights with Lady Rossa now she is a maiden no longer. The Cambridge trainers produced her for a smart first- up victory in the Shopping Centre 2YO at Tauranga yesterday and now she is bound for a step up in class. “She’s a filly with a decent enough pedigree so we’ll be looking to pick up some black type in her next few starts,” said Forsman. The Phoenix Park 2YO Classic at New Plymouth on February 18 and the J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes a week later are among the upcoming options. The race had no bearing on the make- up of tomorrow week’s Karaka Million with Sharp Fuse’s third placing not enough to trouble the order of entry for the Ellerslie feature. Trojan Warrior may have earned himself a group one recall with his latest success at Tauranga. The Easter Stakes runner- up bounced back to winning form in the Crockford Real Estate 1400 yesterday to remain unbeaten in three appearances on the course. Trainer Anne Herbert has the 5- year- old nominated for the Harcourt’s Thorndon Mile and the Herbie Dyke Stakes. Three- year- old Unfazed has made an encouraging start to her career. The well- bred filly was successful at Rotorua on Wednesday at her third start for trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards. In the colours of Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Unfazed is raced with a syndicate of rugby identities. “We own the filly and race her on lease with others, including some of the Super 15 referees and they’ll all be absolutely over the moon,” Sir Patrick said. “There were only five foals born in the last crop of Zabeel. I couldn’t be more pleased and she looks pretty handy to me.”