Blinkers to sharpen colt for Derby
Weregoingtogetcha will be sporting a gear addition when he bids for Classic honours at Ellerslie tomorrow. The handsome colt will race in blinkers for the first time in the Gr I TV3 New Zealand Derby to sharpen his focus when the pressure is applied. “We’ll be putting them on for this one and that’s always been the plan after we’ve watched all his replays,” part-owner and trainer David Hayes said. “He can lay in a bit and even in the Waikato Guineas it cost him a couple of lengths. He also did the same thing in the Ryder Stakes [when runner-up].” Weregoingtogetcha overcame a tardy start to beat the highly regarded Kawi at Awapuni three runs back and was then unplaced in the Gr I Levin Classic after running into dead ends down the straight. He hit the line strongly for third in the Gr II Waikato Guineas behind Puccini and Colonel Carrera and Hayes is unconcerned that Weregoingtogetcha missed the Gr II Avondale Guineas. “It was just a stone bruise and he’s fit and well now and looks good,” he said. “History proves with this horse that he runs better when he’s fresh so that might benefit us.” Weregoingtogetcha has yet to race at Auckland, but he handled his first look at the track in fine style on Tuesday morning in the hands of his Derby pilot Kelly Myers. “He had a breeze-up at Ellerslie and went fantastic. Kelly was very happy with him,” Hayes said.
Gr II win for Spirits Dance
It has taken a while for trainer Peter Moody to convince himself his consistent filly Spirits Dance is worth a bet. But for the sake of her owners and the punters who have stuck with her for her past four runs, he’ll continue to let her go around without him. Spirits Dance scored her fourth win from as many starts when she took out the Gr II Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield and, despite her immaculate form, she again started at attractive odds. “I told her owner before she won the first time that she was flying,” Moody said. “But I haven’t had a cent on her.” Spirits Dance ($5.50) repeated both the pattern and the result of her previous three wins, taking the lead early in the straight and easily holding off the $2 favourite Marianne to score by 1¼ lengths. Metaphorical, another of the five Moody runners in the ninehorse race, finished the same distance away in third place.
Pride pair take double
Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride’s plans for a two-state double with brothers Tiger Tees and Terravista proved a masterstroke last Saturday. Pride wanted to keep them apart and set Tiger Tees for the Listed A$100,000 Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm and Terravista for the Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. The brothers, who are out of the mare Parfore, did the right thing with Terravista, who is by Captain Rio, and Tiger Tees, by Duwabi, both winning. Pride remained in Sydney but intends to take Tiger Tees back to Warwick Farm, although the gelding could return to Queensland for the winter carnival. Tiger Tees, the $3.40 favourite, had not won since September 2012 but showed all his old fire to beat Adebisi by a nose, with a half head to Steel Zip in third. Pride has high hopes Terravista can develop into a contender for the A$3 million Doncaster Mile while Tiger Tees, Rain Affair and Southern Cross fourth-placed That’s A Good Idea are all entered for the A$2.5 million TJ Smith (1200m).
Price coy on Lankan plans
Trainer Mick Price has warned punters Lankan Rupee is not a definite runner in the Newmarket Handicap for which he earned favouritism with his Oakleigh Plate win last Saturday. Price said he had to give serious thought to missing the race on March 8 in favour of the William Reid Stakes and the TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney in April. The trainer said Lankan Rupee’s stablemate Samaready would head to the race. “I just have to have a think,” Price said. “Do you go to the Newmarket, which is a tough 1200 [metre race] and then into the William Reid at his fourth run? The TJ Smith is worth $2.5 million so why wouldn’t you save enough fuel for the TJ Smith? Should you run in the Newmarket? Maybe yes, maybe no. I’ve got a bit of thinking to do.”
Heathcote hits 1000 mark