Briefs for 31st December 2014

Way In’s future under consideration; Bounding out of Railway; James fancies cup chances; Morrell chasing elusive Ellerslie win; Records tumble at Taupo.

Way In’s future under consideration

Options north and south are being considered for the Cambridge stakes performer Way In.

“We’re debating whether to take her to the South Island for some Listed races or keep her up here,” trainer Shaune Ritchie said.

“She seems to save her best for Ellerslie so we’ll have a good think about it.”

Way In got home well at headquarters on Boxing Day to finish third behind the talented duo of Huka Eagle and No Tricks.

“She’s always going to be one of those fillies that are unlucky as she gets back in her races and she isn’t very big,” Ritchie said. “The other day she was able to get to the outside and came home well.”

Bounding out of Railway

A foot issue will prevent Bounding from defending her Gr.1 Sistema Railway Stakes title on New Year’s Day.

Co-trainer Ken Kelso told The Informant that a quarter-crack has forced the mare to bypass the Ellerslie feature.

“Everyone’s been working hard to get her right, but it wasn’t to be and after discussions with her owner we had no option but to pull her out,” he said.

Bounding’s withdrawal allows the last-start Listed Newmarket Handicap runner-up Trepidation into the field.

James fancies cup chances

Roger James is confident of another bold showing from Delago's Secret in Thursday’s Gr.2 Scot Thrust City of Auckland Cup.

“Ellerslie will really suit him and he’s nicely-weighted to win a race like this,” the Cambridge trainer said.

Delago’s Secret drew attention to his prospects with a solid finish from the back in the Gr.3 Waikato Gold Cup.

“It was a very good run and went against the bias of the day when he rushed home for fourth,” James said.

Morrell chasing elusive Ellerslie win

Ryan Mark will have two stable hurdles to overcome if he is to triumph in the Sistema Railway Stakes on New Year’s Day.

His part-owner and trainer John Morrell has yet to win a race at Ellerslie in 51 attempts and he has also yet to taste a Group One success.

“Haylee Baylee ran third in the Avondale Cup a few years ago when that was a Group One race,” he said.

Records tumble at Taupo

A record-breaking meeting at Taupo on Tuesday saw the marks lowered for both the 1000 and 1800 metre distances.

The impressive debutant Perfect Fit scorched over the former trip in 57.35 and then Le’vantos set fresh figures for 1800 metres when he won in 1.49.51.

Their efforts followed on from the previous Taupo fixture when two records were also broken.