Vespa shows fine form at Ruakaka
Confirmation of a trip to Australia for Vespa wasn’t forthcoming on Saturday, but it’s a fair bet the leading colt will be given his chance at the Melbourne spring carnival along with Albany Reunion, also in winning form at Ruakaka.
Vespa, last season’s leading juvenile paraded in fine fettle for his threeyear-old debut in the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes at Ruakaka and he raced right up to his looks with a determined victory.
Trainer Johno Benner didn’t immediately commit to the Melbourne campaign after watching his stable star overcome a tough run to get the better of the previously unbeaten Copy Watch in the day’s feature.
“Never make decisions on raceday,” he said. “We will decide in the next 24 to 48 hours.”
If Vespa is on next Wednesday’s flight, which would seem highly likely on the evidence of his resuming run, the $A1 million Gr I Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 11 will be his target event.
“If he goes we’ll be staying at Stephen McKee’s until he gets on the flight next week,” Benner said.
Vespa was given no favours on Saturday and rider Mark Du Plessis was forced to sit wide from an outside gate.
The Elusive City colt challenged Copy Watch 250m from home and he was given a stern run for his money before class won out and Vespa drew away to win by three-quarters of a length.
“It looked like we were in a bit of trouble for a few strides, but he’s a very, very good horse,” Benner said.
“He was ready enough for this race and there’s plenty of improvement in him. He’s bigger now and a lot stronger – he really has furnished into a lovely horse.”
Riding Shotgun, runner-up to Vespa in last season’s Listed Karaka Million, came out of the trail to finish a solid third ahead of Buffalo Boy, who made ground near the fence.
The fillies Queen of Navarre and Dream Run were disappointments of the race and they dropped out to tail the field home.
Nigel Tiley was pleasantly surprised by Albany Reunion’s open class sprint win at Ruakaka, which augurs well for his future Gr I prospects in Melbourne.
The Pukekohe trainer had expected course specialist Antonio Lombardo, with the benefit of a maximum apprentice claim, to prove a little too sharp for his charge.
However, it was Albany Reunion who held the aces in the Spire Sprint and he was too good for the Peter and Jacob McKay runner.
“He’s not a genuine 1200m horse,” Tiley said. “He had absolutely thrived since his last race and I may give him one more run before he goes – we’ll see how he comes through this first.”
Albany Reunion is likely to make his Australian debut in the $A125,000 Gr III Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 18 with the $1 million Gr I Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 8 his ultimate aim.
Last season’s Gr I Easter Handicap winner, the Fastnet Rock fiveyear-old had finished runner-up to Antonio Lombardo at Ruakaka when resuming and he went one better in style on Saturday in Mark Du Plessis’ hands.
They enjoyed a dream run in the trail before angling into the clear and led over the closing 150 metres to score by a short neck over Antonio Lombardo, who was in receipt of 2.5kg.
The runner-up settled off a good speed set up by D’Cash Man before rider Shaun McKay improved four wide near the turn and the gelding chased gamely from that point.
He’s Rock ’N’ Roll raced on the leader’s quarters to the bend and was a respectable third in his open class debut and Jubilate, second in the Gr II Rich Hill Mile during his summer campaign, also made a pleasing return with his fourth placing.