La Crique needs track to dry as Kiwis look for golden hour
Wonderful racemare La Crique has one more major obstacle to navigate to give New Zealand Group 1 glory on Derby Day at Flemington today.
The glamour girl makes her Australian debut in the A$1 million Empire Rose against Cambridge filly She’s Licketysplit and a smattering of top Australian mares in a solid field.
The pair are the second half of New Zealand’s huge two-race push at the highest level today, with Sharp ’N’ Smart and Mr Maestro giving the Kiwis a huge chance of winning the A$2m Victoria Derby.
But while the Derby is the signature race on the first day of the Melbourne Cup carnival for many New Zealand race fans, La Crique’s appearance may usurp it.
She captured the hearts of New Zealand race fans last season with stunning victories at Trentham and Ellerslie and then became a Group 1 winner at Matamata last start with a performance that will see her start a warm favourite today with champion ex-pat jockey James McDonald in the saddle.
But as exceptional as La Crique may be, she has had a late hurdle thrown in front of her for the 1600m feature at 7pm (NZ time), with Flemington rated a heavy8 last night.
While she has soft track form in New Zealand, if the track remains heavy, it could blunt her blinding acceleration and bring some of the Australians, such as noted mudlark Icebath, into the race.
On the plus side, a heavy track will be nothing like the mudbath La Crique faced at Hastings two starts ago, when she was a solid third at admittedly weaker Group 1 level.
And Flemington is a fantastic drying track, so if Melbourne gets any sun today, the track could come back to a slow rating by late in the day.
If the track does start to cut up on the inside, La Crique’s barrier nine gives McDonald options to find the strip of turf he wants her to gallop on down the home straight.
So if she produces her best, she will take enormous beating.
One concern co-trainer Katrina Alexander doesn’t have is La Crique’s condition after she took a few days to settle in last week after getting the first stamp in her passport.
“I’m really happy with her now, she’s spot on for where she needs to be,” Alexander told the Weekend Herald yesterday.
McDonald drove to Mornington from Flemington to partner the mare in her final track gallop on Wednesday and loved what he felt.
“She’s a class galloper and worked beautifully. She isn’t all that big. but she has a lovely stride, so I’m on the right horse,” says McDonald.
She’s Licketysplit has a huge 7.5kg weight advantage over La Crique today but would also appreciate a drying track, and a win for her would be worth even more as she is eligible for a A$1m bonus should she continue trainer Andrew Forsman’s stunning spring.
Forsman has Mr Maestro in the Derby and he has been handed a brutally wide draw in the short to the first bend.
He came from well back in the field to win at Caulfield last start but jockey Damian Lane has a decision to make early because if he settles too far back, there may not be a suitable cart into the race, so his chance could be dictated by the tactics and talent of those around him when the field settles.
McDonald riding Sharp ’N’ Smart should have no such concerns, as he has barrier three and the raw-boned gelding showed the early speed on his way to winning the Gloaming Stakes two starts ago to suggest McDonald can place him where he wants.
Fit and brave, Sharp ’N’ Smart looks the one to beat today as the Kiwi look to create a new golden hour starting at 6.20pm (NZ time).