Lucky 13 for Waikato Sprint
Only Gr I winners Mufhasa, Quintessential and Choice Bro are missing from quality fields for Saturday’s Gr I features, writes Aidan Rodley.
A STONE bruise has delayed the return of Group I winner Quintessential, who yesterday joined Mufhasa as defectors from Saturday’s Group I Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa.
A stellar field of 13 was yesterday finalised for the $200,000 weight-forage feature despite the withdrawals of the Group I-winning pair.
The field features Group I winners Final Touch, Fleur de Lune and Guiseppina, along with star gallopers Zurella, Xanadu, Better Than Ever, Jetset Lad, Antonio Lombardo and Fazzle.
TAB bookmakers yesterday opened Group I Telegraph Handicap winner Final Touch and former Singapore galloper Better Than Ever as $5.50 joint favourites ahead of Group I Railway Stakes winner Fleur de Lune and Telegraph runner-up Xanadu at $6.
Last year’s Telegraph winner Guiseppina was at $7 ahead of Zurella at $9 and Jetset Lad and Fazzle at $14.
Rough Odds, at $31, yesterday drew barrier one with Final Touch coming up with barrier two, Guiseppina five, Fazzle six, Xanadu eight, Fleur de Lune nine, Better Than Ever 10 and Zurella 11.
Matamata trainer John Sargent was disappointed Quintessential couldn’t resume in the Te Rapa feature. ‘‘She’s got a stone bruise and she’ll probably kick off in the open sprint at Matamata in a couple of weeks now,’’ Sargent said yesterday
he other high-profile withdrawal was two-time Waikato Sprint winner Mufhasa, who flew to Melbourne last night for Saturday’s Group I A$400,000 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Choice Bro and Fiorano were the two withdrawals from Saturday’s Group I $200,000 Darci Brahma International Stakes (2000m), leaving a field of 14, including Group I winners Shootoff, Historian, Sangster and Artistic.
Last season’s Group I Victoria Derby winner Sangster yesterday opened as the TAB’s $4.50 final field favourite after drawing barrier eight ahead of Lady Kipling at $5, Artistic at $6.50, Shootoff at $7, Historian at $8.50 and Dolmabache at $9.
Better Together, a $31 outsider, yesterday drew barrier one with Artistic drawing barrier three, City Of Auckland Cup winner Hiace four, last-start Group I Thorndon Mile winner Historian six and Thorndon runner-up Lady Kipling seven. Dolmabache drew barrier 10, two inside last season’s Group I Queensland Derby winner Shootoff in gate 12.
Sargent said Group I winner Choice Bro would be saved for the Group II Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie on Sunday week as he believed that race would serve as a more suitable leadup to next month’s Group I New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same track.
‘‘Jonathan [Riddell, jockey] couldn’t make the weight for this Saturday being at weight-for-age and this race is three weeks out from the Derby and I just feel the Avondale Guineas fits better for the Derby,’’ Sargent said.
‘‘It’s two weeks out from the Derby and you want them hard-fit for that so having the race a bit closer fits better, plus it means another run around Ellerslie which should help too.’’
Sargent will still have runners in each of the Te Rapa Group I features, with Demophon contesting the Waikato Draught Sprint and Better Together tackling the International Stakes, though he admits both have the task ahead of them.
‘‘Demophon is a good honest horse and he’s fit and ready but he’s taking on the good ones and we know it won’t be easy,’’ Sargent said.
‘‘Better Together was a bit stiff in the Wellington Cup, though this is up in class again. Still, it’s a Group I race and she’s in there and deserves her chance.’’ Fairfax NZ