Tough draw for Sacred Star; Colgan booked for Midnitemagicman; Nine runners for Herbie Dyke Stakes; Smart 4YO Endeavour on a break; Talented juvenile dies; Sky’s the limit for NZ racing; Passing of crack sprinter.
Tough draw for Sacred Star
Gr.1 Telegraph Handicap winner Sacred Star will have to overcome the outside barrier draw of 13 if he is to make it successive elite-level wins.The Tony Pike-trained Flying Spur gelding will start one of the favourites for Saturday's Gr.1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa but the outside draw for the weight-for-age features has done his chances no favour.
Silver Eclipse has drawn barrier one, with The Filly in two, Rollout The Carpet in five, Natuzzi in six, Atlante in seven, Diademe in nine and Trepidation barrier 10.
TAB bookmakers opened Atlante a $4 favourite ahead of Sacred Star $4.50 and Natuzzi at $7.Colgan booked for Midnitemagicman
Five-time New Zealand Derby winner Vinnie Colgan has been booked for the Donna and Dean Logan-trained Midnitemagicman for the Group One Classic at Ellerslie on February 28.Midnitemagicman, on the sixth line of betting for the Derby at $21, will have his next start in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie on February 14.
Colgan's previous Derby wins at Ellerslie came aboard Roysyn in 1995, Zonda in 1997, Hades in 1999, Redoute's Dancer in 2007 and Habibi in 2013.Nine runners for Herbie Dyke Stakes
Group One winners Shuka, Nashville and Soriano head the field for Saturday's Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.A field of nine was accepted for the weight-for-age feature, with Gr.2 Travis Stakes winner Lauren Tate coming up with barrier one.
Gr.1 Zabeel Classic winner and last-start Gr.1 Thorndon Mile runner-up Soriano has drawn perfectly in barrier three, with two-time Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes winner Shuka coming up with gate four.TAB bookmakers opened Soriano a $2.80 favourite, ahead of Pondarosa Miss at $4.80 and Shuka at $5.50.
Smart 4YO Endeavour on a break
Promising mare Endeavour is on light duties after feeling the effects of the firmer ground during the Wellington Cup carnival.
“We turned her out for two weeks after Trentham, the tracks were a bit hard for her,” co-trainer Emma Haworth said.“She’s a very talented mare and we think a lot of her, but she’s a typical Faltaat and she needs a bit more time and distance.”
Endeavour was an impressive winner on a dead Trentham surface in December and was a minor placegetter in both her runs there during the carnival.Talented juvenile dies
Talented two-year-old Burnstone died of an apparent heart attack at Cranbourne on Tuesday.The Listed Blue Diamond Preview winner’s death has stunned his trainer Robbie Griffiths.
“Why a fit, young colt who was trotting and cantering and had come through his run incredibly well would have a heart attack, I don’t know,” he said.“It doesn’t make sense, but these things never do. He was jumping out of his skin, he was just trotting and cantering then fell over and died.”
Sky’s the limit for NZ racing
New Zealand racing’s overseas profile will be lifted following a Sky Racing deal with a major European broadcaster.
An agreement reached with At The Races will see live streaming of all New Zealand and Australian racing to the websites of UK, Irish and Channel Islands wagering operators including the major bookmakers.“We are delighted to welcome top quality racing content from Australia and New Zealand to our streaming platform and particularly through an extended agreement with our long standing and valued partners at Tabcorp,” At The Races chief executive officer Matthew Imi said.
Sky Racing markets New Zealand and Australian racing on behalf of the industry to more than 50 countries.Passing of crack sprinter
Laminitis has claimed the life of an outstanding Australian sprinter.Triple Group One winner Hay List lost his battle against the disease this week and will be buried on the property of his trainer John McNair.
“His win in the Newmarket delivered one of the greatest wins in the race we have seen," Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter said."Physically, he was imposing and he owned an outstanding record, which would have been even greater had he not raced in the same era as Black Caviar.”
