Three for Dennis in Dunedin Guineas
WELLINGTON: Woodlands trainer Robert Dennis ventures to Wingatui tomorrow shouldering a degree of pressure.
The 29yearold horseman will saddle three runners in the Dunedin Guineas (1500m), headed by The Gift ($3 favourite) and Ocean Point ($5), who both come out of strong showings when second and fourth respectively in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m), while onewin filly Choux In ($31) will step up to stakes company for the first time.
“There is a little bit of pressure as they are three quality horses and I just want to do everything I can to make sure they get there in the best shape I can have them,” Dennis said.
“At the Gore
Guineas there
[were] something like 100 people connected to my two fillies there with owners and their friends, so I’d expect something similar at Wingatui this weekend.
“It’s a big day for White Robe Lodge and a day to remember Steve Anderton as well.”
The Gift will start favourite in the Dunedin Guineas, after being narrowly trumped by Showemhowitsdone, where she had to endure a wide passage throughout.
“It was just bad luck that beat her last start. The bigger track at Wingatui and the better draw [barrier 3] is going to be right in her favour.”
Dennis believes stablemate Ocean Point, who also did not get the rub of the green in the Gore Guineas, will be suited by the good track at Wingatui.
“She was certainly robbed of third last time when the winner ducked out and cut off her and Chokito and Krishna [Mudhoo, jockey] had to stand up in the irons and couldn’t ride her out that last 50m. She missed third by a nose.
“She is a good filly, too, and if she can get the right run as well from barrier 6, I can’t see why she won’t be right there at the finish too.”
Both The Gift and Ocean Point hold nominations for the group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 20.
“They both give the impression that they will get over ground and I will be a lot wiser after [tomorrow] as to where we are heading.
“There are always good options for fillies down here through the autumn if we don’t go down the Oaks path, but we will just get [tomorrow] out of the way first and go from there.”
Dennis was delighted with the run of Choux In, fourth over 1200m last month, after a month out with a hoof issue.
“I was rapt to see how well she went and she has come on in leaps and bounds since then.
“She is certainly not there making up the numbers.”
Dennis hopes to start the day well, with maiden galloper The Ace in the opening race, the maiden over 1400m.
“He had a bit of a freshenup since his last start and back to 1400m with conditions in his favour, I’d like to think he’d run to his best. It does look a winnable race for him, but I have thought that a few times before.”