A full field including two Trans-Tasman raiders is set to contest the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha on Saturday.
New Zealand Bloodstock are stepping into their eighth year of sponsorship of the 1600 metre event which has been won by the likes of Arlingtonboulevard, Rockabubble, Surprize Surprize, Captivate, Special Mission, Zirna and Saint Cecile since its elevation to Group 1 status in 2002.
Special Mission and Tall Poppy are the only three-year-olds to win the race in the last ten years. Taking the field on Saturday is just one three-year-old, the Richard Collett-trained Shanzero (Danzero x Arising by Marauding) and she appears the one to beat with the mile being her ideal distance. She carries 54.5kg, compared to the rest of the field's 57kg and will be ridden by Leith Innes.
Leading Kiwi trainer Mark Walker, the trainer of last year's winner Special Mission (Towkay), has Snipza Gold (Pins x Golden Dawn by Gold Brose) taking the line in the hands of Reese Jones. Recently recording a spate of third placings including the Group 3 Darley Plate (1200m) to Accardo, she's had 24 starts for seven wins and 11 placings with the distance being her biggest question on Saturday.
Looking to take the winner's share of the $200,000 purse offshore is the Keith Dryden-trained Bacchanal Woman (Encosta do Lago x M'Lady Fonteyn by Zabeel) and Lee Freedman's Dane Julia (Caesour x Precious Julia by Danehill).
Dryden has brought last season's Canberra and South Eastern NSW premiership winner Kevin Sweeney over from while Freedman is entrusting their hope with Michael Walker.
Bacchanal Woman has had one start in New Zealand, in the Group 2 Japan New Zealand International Trophy (1600m) in which she finished 3.5 lengths in arrears of My Astron. The Listed Canberra RC National Sprint winner has strong ties with New Zealand, being the grand-daughter of Trotanoy, a family Pencarrow Stud still has interest in. The long Te Aroha straight should suit the mares racing style.
Meanwhile Dane Julia has a good draw on her side and a nice run for third two starts ago in the Group 3 MRC Mannerism Stakes.
Jumping from barrier nine is the five-year-old Overkaast (Kaapstad x Daytime by Heroicity). She finished second in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks to Princess Coup with more recent performances seeing her finish third behind Gallions Reach in the Group 1 ARC Zabeel Classic and fourth to Maco'reilly in the Group 1 ARC New Zealand Stakes. Rogan Norvall has the ride on the Royce Dowling and Linda Laing trained grey.
With three wins at Group 2 level to her credit and third in the Group 1 Waikato RC International Stakes to Maco'reilly, Veloce Bella (Volksraad x Wave to Lottie by Crested Wave) looks to have the talent to break through for a Group 1 win. Opie Bosson will ride the Mark Brosnan trained five-year-old from barrier five.
The Listed ARC Westbury Classic winner two starts ago, Bella Renza (Van Nistelrooy x Katrina Belle by Conquistarose) has a tough draw to overcome with Andrew Calder booked to ride for the Rogerson, Lucock and Bergerson partnership.
Having her second start back from a break is Material Girl (Al Akbar x Glowing Satin by Noble Bijou) from the stable of her multiple group winning younger sister Alagant Satin, Murray and Bjorn Baker.
Runner up in the Group 1 Waiwera Railway Stakes (1200m) Dashing Donna (Don Eduardo x Epic Pulse by Epidaurus). In her last start the Donna, Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs trained runner finished fifth at Tauranga.
Already with a Group 1 win under her belt is the Stephen McKee runner, Keepa Cruisin (Keeper x Just Cruising by Broad Reach). She took out the Group 1 Levin Classic as a three year old but has struggled to keep her form recently. Danielle Johnson has the ride from barrier seven.
Matamata-based trainers have a strong presence in the race and it would come as no surprise to see Mark Brosnan's Veloce Bella (Volksraad - Wave To Lottie, by Crested Wave), Lance Noble's Attalla (Volksraad - Janus, by Mi Priferido), Ken Kelso and Thomas Russell's Spirits Bay (Stravinsky - Amidale, by Zeditave), Karen Fursdon and Gemma Sliz's Zoe Quinn (Kashani x Bemuze, by Centro) or John Sargent's Taatyana (Faltaat - Clear Advantage, by Stark South), figure in the finish of this race based on the raw ability each of them have shown this preparation.
- NZB Release
