Longshot El Soldado wins another cup
The murky weather and slow track at Ellerslie on Saturday did little to clear the picture leading into the Auckland Cup carnival in a fortnight.
Outsiders claimed the traditional lead-up races to the Group I Auckland Cup (3200m) and the Group I NZ Derby (2400m) confusing an already tricky puzzle facing punters.
Early Derby favourite Sacred Elixir had trainer Tony Pike questioning a Derby run after an ordinary effort in the Group II Avondale Guineas (2100m) won by $27 shot Gingernuts.
‘‘Sacred Elixir was a big disappointment,’’ Pike said. ’’He wasn’t that far away in seventh, but he travelled into it like he should have won and he just didn’t finish off like he should have.
‘‘We’ve got a bit of work to do and we’ll get him checked out tomorrow to make sure he’s okay.
‘‘Whether he runs in the Derby or not, we’ll have to see closer to the time.’’
Savile Row, second in the weight-for-age Group I Herbie Dyke Stakes the previous Saturday to Volkstok’n’barrell, has leapfrogged Sacred Elixir into Derby favouritism.
Savile Row (4.50) heads Sacred Elixir ($5) in the market while Avondale Guineas winner Gingernuts ($8) has tightened appreciably, runner-up Charles Road and third placed Mongolian Wolf are at $10.
Camino Rocoso ($8) held his place in the market despite finishing eighth in the Guineas while Wyndspelle, scratched on Saturday is a $12 chance.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Gingernuts was the beneficiary of a smart Johnathan Parkes ride.
The horse dropped its head as the gates opened and he was very slow away giving his opposition a six length start.
‘‘He was just a little funny in the gates and missed it a little bit,’’ Parkes said. ‘‘He relaxed and travelled good.
‘‘I looked at coming out to make a run at the 600m but I could see a few fanning wide so I just rode him for luck. When I got stuck into him he showed a very good turn of foot to win.’’
To add to his job he was also copped interference passing the 400m mark.
‘‘I was devastated to see him miss the kick like that,’’ Richards said. ‘‘Johnathan took all the short cuts and didn’t he finish it off?’’
TAB bookmakers reacted immediately shortening his price despite him not being among Derby nominations.
That’s likely to change after a meeting of connections in the next couple of days.
‘‘I’d say a late nomination will be going in on Tuesday,’’ Richards said.
Parkes rode St Jean in the Avondale Cup won by the grand 10-year-old El Soldado paying $69 on the tote and $101 for those who took the fixed odds.
Parkes said the that the entire, a $14 Auckland Cup prospect, had failed to handle track conditions.
Winning jockey Samantha Collett praised the Phillip Devcichtrained and co-owned El Soldado, last year’s upset Auckland Cup winner.
‘‘It was a good brave effort,’’ she said. ‘‘We managed a good soft sectional the first half of the race - we just kept quickening.’’
El Soldado firmed to $21 in Auckland Cup markets while last year’s Wellington Cup winner Mister Impatience ($9) lost few admirers with his third place.
‘‘It was a really nice run,’’ said Sam Spratt the rider of Mister Impatience. ‘‘The 3200m will suit him better.’’