Dijon Bleu widens gap in title race
BUSY is best for New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year front-runner Dijon Bleu.
The Awapuni three-year-old won the first leg of the series, the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and subsequently placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m).
She then posted a dominant victory in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and at Te Rapa on Saturday she produced a commanding display to waltz away with the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m).
Dijon Bleu now has 30 points in the Filly of the Year series with her closest rival Contessa Vanessa on 13.5.
Trainer Lisa Latta has yet to fully commit Dijon Bleu to next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), but it’s becoming hard to argue against.
‘‘We’ll head to the Lowland Stakes first and take it from there, she’s been up a long time,’’ she said.
Dijon Bleu was making her first start beyond a mile at Te Rapa and she took it all in her stride for rider Jonathan Riddell, who replaced a suspended Leith Innes.
They settled back of midfield and when gaps opened in the straight the filly sprinted to the front 300m from home and forged clear for a hollow victory.
‘‘I said to Jonathan to put her to sleep somewhere so she could relax,’’ Latta said. ‘‘There’s a lot of fillies in there bred to stay and she’s not, but she has got a blistering turn of foot.’’
Dijon Bleu had three-quarters of a length on Mark Two, who came from last, at the post with Milseain third ahead of Rondinella.
‘‘I did all the two-year-old work on her and it’s a credit to Lisa to have kept her up for a while,’’ Riddell said. ‘‘She’s just a class horse.’’
Meanwhile, explosive pace earned Shamexpress Group One sprinting honours and shades of that were on show at Riccarton on Saturday when the Windsor Park Stud resident sired his first winner.
The well-credentialled stallion’s daughter Xpressmymind flew the outside gate in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race (900m) to cross the field and lead under rider Courtney Barnes.
She travelled comfortably and sprinted clear in the run home.
‘‘She’s a really nice filly who hasn’t done anything wrong,’’ part-owner and trainer Andrew Carston said.
‘‘It’s been a good team effort and they’re only two once so as long as she comes through this race well we’ll go again.’’
SHAUN and Emma Clotworthy are confident that Diesel’s free-running style can be put to good use over more ground.
The Byerley Park trainers have a Group One dream for the stayer, who took another winning step toward his autumn target with a commanding victory in the Bupa New Zealand Handicap (2400m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Diesel is now an $18 chance in next month’s Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m).
‘‘We’re planning toward that and he’ll definitely run the distance,’’ Emma Clotworthy said. ‘‘He’ll most probably have one more run before the Cup.’’
Versatility is another quality boasted by Diesel, who is a multiple winner on top of the ground and he had no trouble coping with the Slow 7 going at Te Rapa, where he was never headed.
‘‘He likes to lead and be dictating the race,’’ Clotworthy said. ‘‘In his last couple of wins he’s been in front and he’s got a high cruising speed. ‘‘He doesn’t sprint, but from the 1000m he holds a strong gallop.’’
The Electronic Zone seven-year-old travelled comfortably under rider Alysha Collett and they had their rivals in trouble some distance from home.
They were clear on the turn and strolled home by four lengths from the favourite Blue Lagoon, who was in receipt of four kilos from the winner.