Choice on target for Ellerslie; Oliver to ride Silent Achiever; Twilight Dragon’s year over; Hong Kong beckons debut winner; Partnership strengthened

Choice on target for Ellerslie

Highly-regarded Mastercraftsman filly Choice will make the step to black type company later this month.

“She’s headed toward the Soliloquy Stakes (September 27) at Ellerslie,” trainer Robert Patterson said.

The Taranaki three-year-old finished runner-up in her only appearance last season and was an impressive winner when she resumed in an age group contest at Woodville last month.

That race has already proved to be a strong form guide with minor placegetters Hilarious Honour and Platinum Witness both in the money again in last Saturday’s Listed O’Leary’s Stakes at Wanganui.

Patterson also has high spring hopes for the unraced Porotene Rippa, who was a winner at this week’s Woodville trials.

Oliver to ride Silent Achiever

Trainer Roger James has reacted quickly to Nash Rawiller’s untimely Japanese suspension, booking racing’s go-to man as replacement for Cox Plate favourite Silent Achiever.

Rawiller had been booked to ride the mare in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on September 20, but was suspended after winning a feature race at Niigata on Sunday and failed to have his suspension reduced on appeal.

Rawiller will be replaced by Damien Oliver on a “race by race arrangement,’’ according to James.

Rawiller had planned to ride Silent Achiever at Caulfield before taking up a four-month stint in Hong Kong, returning to Melbourne for key spring engagements.

Twilight Dragon’s year over

Capable sprinter Twilight Dragon has been sent for a lengthy break.

The five-year-old has battled knee problems for much of his career and has been turned out by trainer Danny Walker.

“He’s got another issue so he’ll be out in the paddock for six months,” he said.

The winner of six of his 16 starts, Twilight Dragon collected three cheques from his four-start winter campaign and was spelled after an unplaced run at Pukekohe last month.

Hong Kong beckons debut winner

Farnham’s New Zealand career might already be over with the four-year-old the subject of overseas interest.

The grey son of Guillotine was a midweek winner on debut at Te Rapa for owner-trainer John Bell.

“He’s a capable galloper, just inexperienced and he’s a nice horse,” the Cambridge horseman said. “He’s Hong Kong-bound so the next bit of pressure is passing the vet test.”

Out of a Marauding mare, Farnham was purchased by Bell during the Festival session at Karaka in 2913 for $42,500.

Partnership strengthened

The partnership between NZ Thoroughbred Racing and Equestrian Sports NZ is being expanded this season to eventing, jumping, show hunter, dressage and para-equestrian.

This follows a successful inaugural 2013-14 TiES (Thoughbreds in Equestrian Sport) Championship, which finished in May and was won by Citadelle and Claudia Wilson.

Citadelle formerly raced as Vintage Peak and won two races for champion trainer Lisa Latta before his retirement in 2009.