At Caulfield, the Mike Moroney trained filly Alaskan Rose confirmed the
potential she showed with a facile debut win earlier this month when cruising
clear to win over 1400 metres by more than a length.Moroney compares Alaskan Rose to his previous star Group I winning filly Brazilian Pulse and will target the Group II MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude over 1400m at Caulfield on September 26 before the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas in October.
"We'll have to go a bit further with her now but the way she relaxes it looks like she will cope with a mile," Moroney said.
"I think she is pretty ready now condition wise, my first thoughts are that we won't run now for four weeks until the Guineas Prelude.
"Now is the right time to give her a little freshen, we can always give her a jumpout at Flemington if we need to.
"The Thousand Guineas is her grand final."
A $150,000 NZB Premier purchase for Paul Moroney Bloodstock from the Westbury Stud draft, Alaskan Rose was bred by Gerry Harvey and is the first winner for well-bred Redoute's Choice mare Saskia.
A half-sister to stakes-winner Quayside, Saskia is a daughter of Group II winner Quays and grand-daughter of Group I winner Pontal Lass.
Now retired champion sire Encosta de Lago has already won the MRC Thousand Guineas twice previously with Alinghi and Mnemosyne, so Alaskan Rose will be seeking to give him the hat-trick.
A trans-Tasman racing partnership between Coolmore Australia and Te Akau made a perfect start with the debut victory of regally-bred filly Love Triangle.
As a daughter of Encosta de Lago from the legendary Eight Carat (GB) family, the
three-year-old has promised much in trials and duly delivered in the 1200 metre
maiden at Ruakaka.Love Triangle was a $400,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Cambridge Stud draft for Te Akau principal David Ellis and she carries the famed navy colours of Coolmore.
"It's the first time they have raced a horse outright in New Zealand," Ellis said. "John Magnier asked me about 18 months ago to buy them a filly and I chose Love Triangle.
"The boys are going to have a lot of fun with her and as long as she comes through this race well she will probably run in the Gold Trail Stakes at Hawke's Bay."
Love Triangle's long-term aim is the Group I New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November.
"That's been the goal since the day I bought her," Ellis said.
The Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Love Triangle sat in second spot to the turn and led over the closing 300 metres for a comfortable victory under Matt Cameron.
"Matt thought there was a lot of improvement to come and he is really keen on her," Ellis said.
Love Triangle is a half-sister to Group III placed Lovetessa and is the fourth winner from Love Diamonds, a sister to Group I winner Viking Ruler and to the dam of Group I winner De Beers from Group I winner Tristalove.
