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All the latest news from New Zealand.
Caduceus to follow Guineas path
A Guineas campaign through the spring beckons the unbeaten Matamata two-year-old Caduceus.
The Paul and Kris Shailer-trained Lucky Unicorn gelding won both his starts this season, following a Waverley debut win with success in the Listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie in April.
He spelled immediately after that 1600m win, but has been back in work with the Shailers for the past three weeks.
"He's ticking over nicely. He'll probably trial at Te Teko (in early August) and then head to the Hawke's Bay Guineas (in early October), maybe with one race before then," Paul Shailer said.
Meanwhile, promising three-year-old Elroi will test his Gr.3 Winter Cup credentials in Rating 75 grade at Te Rapa on Saturday.
"It's a bit hopeful at the moment but if he was to win his next start and the one after that, we'd have a look at the Winter Cup," Shailer said.
Success for Rip Van Winkle
Windsor Park Stud shuttle stallion Rip Van Winkle has produced his first stakes winner in the Northern Hemisphere.
His daughter I Am Beautiful won the Gr.3 Grangecon Stakes in Ireland on Sunday at her third raceday appearance.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, she narrowly beat Jeanne Girl who is also by Rip Van Winkle.
The Galileo stallion’s first Southern Hemisphere yearlings sold up to $375,000 during the Premier Sale at Karaka earlier this year.
Encouraging Matamata debut
So You Think’s three-quarter brother Packing Chaparral turned in an encouraging performance at Matamata on Monday.
The $800,000 Karaka yearling finished runner-up on debut for local trainers Ken and Bev Kelso.
Ridden by Reese Jones, Packing Chaparral jumped well to take up the early running before trailing and stuck grimly to his task in the straight in testing Heavy 11 conditions.
Habibi unplaced at Santa Anita
New Zealand mare Habibi’s much anticipated debut at Santa Anita in the Royal Heroine Stakes (1600m) on Sunday resulted in an eighth-placed finish.
It was her first start in more than 14-months after she suffered a fractured hind pastern in the 2013 Australian Oaks.
Initially aimed at the US$500,000 Santa Anita Gold cup (2000m), a cough forced a change of plans for the daughter of Ekraar.
Prepared by Dan Blacker, Habibi settled towards the rear of the ten horse field, travelling wide throughout and never figured, with the race dominated by on pace runners.
Six-time Stakes winner Parranda wore down pacesetter Kathleen Rose in the home straight to score by a neck.
