Kiwi stars sparkle at Flemington
Caulfield Cup hopefuls Provocative and Sofia Rosa please their trainers after their quiet hitouts yesterday
Cambridge trainers Tony Pike and Stephen Marsh were thrilled with the efforts of their group one Oaks winners Provocative and Sofia Rosa at the Flemington jumpouts yesterday.
Damien Oliver was aboard Pike's Queensland Oaks winner Provocative, while Melbourne- based Kiwi jockey Michael Walker rode Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa for Marsh.
Both mares finished just in behind the winner, pleasing their trainers no end.
“I'm really pleased with her,” Pike said of Provocative's effort.
“It was just a quiet hitout. She settled third or fourth and she's hit the line nicely just in behind a couple of listed- class sprinters. She got on the wrong leg first time back left- handed for a while but Damien was happy with her and she's pulled up clean.”
Pike said Provocative was likely to resume in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes ( 1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 3 before tackling the Naturalism Stakes ( 2000m) at Caulfield on September 17.
The Turnbull Stakes ( 2000m) at Flemington on October 2 is likely to be the Zabeel mare's leadup into the Caulfield Cup ( 2400m) on October 15.
“She looks fantastic. She's really muscled up, matured a lot and her coat looks fantastic. Having the sun on her back up in Queensland, she's already got her summer coat and she's bulked up and is carrying a lot more condition,” Pike said.
The feedback from Marsh was much the same in reaction to Sofia Rosa's effort.
“She jumped out really well. Her behaviour was really good for her,” Marsh said of the notoriously difficult mare.
“She flew the gates and travelled beautifully. She pulled up great and Michael was full of praise for her. Michael got on really well with her.”
Marsh confirmed Sofia Rosa would resume in the Memsie Stakes ( 1400m) at Caulfield on August 27, with her possible Caulfield Cup leadup runs in the Makybe Diva Stakes ( 1600m) at Flemington on September 10 and the Turnbull Stakes, though he said he was prepared to change plans depending on what his mare was showing.
“I couldn't be any happier. She was straight into her tucker after the jumpout and she looks on top of the world,” Marsh said.
“She's developed a lot since last season and strengthened. She's still got to strengthen more but temperament- wise she might have got slightly better. She's not perfect by any means but she's getting a little easier to deal with.”
Further north, the owners of Australia’s best racehorse, Winx, are feeling the pressure as the mighty mare looks for her 10th consecutive win.
The 5- year- old will kick off her spring campaign in the Warwick Stakes ( 1400m) at Randwick today.
Part- owner Debbie Kepitis said the pressure for Winx to perform was building with every win.
As the daughter of Bob Ingham, Kepitis i s no stranger to the expectations of racing.
The Ingham family raced champions Octagonal and his son Lonhro but Kepitis admits it’s different with Winx.
“You only have to look at the racebook and see all those 1s — the picket fence — it’s a scary thing,” Kepitis said on Thursday morning at Rosehill, after Winx’s final trackwork before the race.
Winx has been in work for three months preparing for her return.
“There’s always an air of confidence when you have a good horse, but I feel that when they come back for their first race it’s always the hardest race to win,” Kepitis said.
“She looks better, she looks stronger, but until she races on Saturday you really don’t know. But it won’t matter to us. For the public’s sake I want her to win.”
Trainer Chris Waller is also feeling the weight of expectation to secure Winx’s winning streak.
“The public pressure i s greater than any other horse I’ve trained,” Waller said. “It’s certainly a pleasure to be a part of her career but also important that we continue on with the winning sequence.” A change of venue won’t faze Cambridge trainer Shelley Houston as she prepares Lucky Tonight for the Grand National Steeplechase tomorrow. Racing Victoria officials are keeping a close eye on Ballarat as rain falls, putting Warrnambool, just over two hours away, on standby as an alternative venue. “I like Warrnambool; it’s a lovely track,” said Houston. “We schooled there at the beginning of our Australian adventure and we’ve been based at Ballarat so it’s his home track.” Lucky Tonight has finished second in all three of his Australian races and Houston is confident he has improved since his last start in the Crisp Steeplechase. “This is the race he’s been trained for and he’s spot on.” Sweet Leader hinted that he could be a classic contender with an impressive win in the Sacred Falls @ Waikato Stud 1000 at Taupo yesterday. The 3- year- old O’Reilly colt missed the kick and raced greenly but was still too good for his rivals. “It was really encouraging the way he rounded it off,” said Andrew Scott, who prepares him with Lance O’Sullivan. “We will keep tracking towards the Bonecrusher Stakes, his form will determine where he goes but we’ll keep our fingers crossed and hopefully we get to Riccarton in November.” Hayden Tinsley has picked up the ride on Ryan Mark for the Makfi Challenge Stakes ( 1400m) at Hastings next Saturday. The Palmerston North jockey answered the call from Taupiri owner- trainer John Morell after Ryan Mark’s regular rider, Michael Coleman, opted to ride No More Tears in the Hastings feature. Coleman had several Makfi Stakes mounts to choose from, with Johnathan Parkes now riding Mime for Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, who have also engaged Mark Du Plessis for Our Vergara. Southern Icon is an uncertain runner for the Makfi Stakes on August 27 in the wake of his Foxbridge Plate failure last weekend, though Matamata trainer Alan Tait is optimistic of lining up at Hastings. The 5- year- old was favourite, but finished eighth, six lengths behind winner Saracino. “He had an elevated temperature when he got home for three days,” Tait said.