Top trainers bemused by shock failures
Pair none the wiser why two favourites had near career-worst performances
Punters confused and stung by the shock defeat of two of New Zealand’s best gallopers at Te Rapa on Saturday are not alone. Because the men behind Avanatge and Tavi Mac, the most expensive failures in the $110,000 Valachi Downs Foxbridge Plate, are none the wiser as to why the two favourites produced near career-worst performances.
Avantage finished eighth in the 1200m Group 2, her first unplaced performance in 13 starts over the distance, while Tavi Mac was perhaps even more disappointing in ninth after receiving the perfect trail.
Trainers Jamie Richards and Allan Sharrock were in shoulder-shrugging mode yesterday.
“I really don’t know what happened,” said Richards.
“She was obviously trapped three wide but a horse of her class was entitled to finish closer.
“I don’t know if she was overtrained, under-trained or simply had an off day.
“Her blood was perfect on Thursday, so I don’t think anything was wrong with her, so our only real option is to turn the page and head to Hastings.
“But we will have a lot bigger problems if she produces another run like that there.”
Sharrock was frank about Tavi Mac and his day in general after other stable reps, such as Ladies Day, got beaten at short odds.
“We got our arses kicked all day,” said Sharrock.
“I said to my partner, things had been going way too well and something had to go wrong eventually. Well, we copped that.”
Sharrock’s only excuse was Tavi Mac being down on the inside of the track at a stage of the day when it had had plenty of hooves cut into it, but for a warrior like Tavi Mac, the ninth simply wasn’t good enough.
“We will run a blood test, and all going well, he will still be at Hastings.”
Saturday’s results in the race won by Mascarpone have totally confused the market for the Tarzino, the first Group 1 of the season on September 18. Avantage remains the $3.20 equal favourite with Catalyst, who looked slick but short of mental match fitness winning a trial at Cambridge on Friday.
I said to my partner, things had been going way too well and something had to go wrong eventually. Well, we copped that.
That was enough for his new trainer Tony Pike to suggest Catalyst will be ready for the Tarzino but may struggle to be at his peak after a year away from the races.
Third favourite and awfully short in the market is Dragon Leap, who has had only one start in 18 months and was good without blowing anybody’s hair back in his trial at Cambridge last Tuesday.
“He is coming up well and I thought he was very willing in his trial,” said co-trainer Andrew Scott.
“We have some work to do to get in to the Tarzino, and even if he does get in, it is hard to see how he can be at his peak.”
Local boy and defending champion Callsign Mav sits on the next line of betting at $7 and starts to appeal because he has less recent convictions or question marks than some of the other favourites but it is hard to get excited about his price when he paid $82 to win the same race last season.
While Dragon Leap sits 22nd in the rankings to make the 16-strong Tarzino field, he should get in, as several high-profile returnees are unlikely to head there.
Richards says Brando is more likely to target a 1200m sprint fresh up, possibly at Ellerslie on September 19, while Cornflower Blue races at Taupo on Wednesday, so won’t be at Hastings.
Frontman, who is safely in the Tarzino field, is more likely to resume in a 1200m at Te Rapa this Saturday, while Justacanta, who is also ranked above Dragon Leap, is in Australia, where he was caught a bit flat-footed but tried hard at The Valley on Saturday.
So with those four almost certain not to be at Hastings, Dragon Leap moves from 22nd to 18th in the
rankings, with doubts over at least one or two others ranked above him.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s brave Breeders Stakes winner Imperatriz will head to Hastings for the $80,000 Gold Trail Stakes looking to remain unbeaten in four starts and on a path to the 1000 Guineas.
Allan Sharrock