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Autumn focus for star Kiwi galloper; Otaki next for The Bold One; Former great to be honoured; Sydney autumn carnival filly’s target
Autumn focus for star Kiwi galloper
Murray Baker remains philosophical, despite the disappointment of scratching his $A6 million Gr.1 Emirates Melbourne Cup chance Mongolian Khan due to colic.
He said the immediate future was all about the stallion’s recovery and longer-term he had Sydney autumn carnival hopes for the top class four-year-old.
“It’s an up and down game, you’ve got to take it and move on. He won’t be rushed back to the races this spring.”
Baker said Mongolian Khan would return to New Zealand once he was given clearance from the vets to travel.
Otaki next for The Bold One
Talented sprinter The Bold One will start next in the Listed Levin Stakes at Otaki on November 27.
The Fastnet Rock entire won well at Hastings fresh-up this term, but was below his best when finishing fifth, as a $2.50 favourite, with 59kg in a Rating 85 1200m at Trentham last weekend.
Trainer Allan Sharrock has been unable to find a reason for the horse’s Trentham run. “His blood is good and there were no excuses,” he said.
Former great to be honoured
A champion of yesteryear will be remembered at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup day next year.
The Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes on March 12 will be named in memory of the great Bonecrusher, who was the first horse to win $1 million in New Zealand.
“It’s a privilege for the ARC to associate with the Mitchell family to honour such a champion in Bonecrusher,” chief executive Cameron George said.
Trained by Frank Ritchie, Bonecrusher won nine Group One races with three of them at Ellerslie and a memorial is to be erected there in his honour.
Sydney autumn carnival filly’s target
Talented filly Sofia Rosa is due back in Stephen Marsh’s Cambridge stable next week.
A dashing first-up win at Hastings in August earned her a trip to Sydney where she performed creditably to finish sixth in the Gr.2 Tea Rose Stakes and seventh in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes.
Sofia Rosa returned home for a month’s break with the Sydney autumn carnival her long-term goal.