With NZB Kiwi favourite Well Written confirmed to run in the Entain/TAB NZ slot in New Zealand’s richest race, attention is now being focused on decisions around other prominent candidates for the $4 million March 7 feature.
Those horses include the Pam Gerard-trained Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) quinella pair Romanoff and Affirmative Action.
“No decision has been made yet on either horse,” Gerard said. “As the 2000 Guineas winner, Romanoff has first option on the Canterbury Jockey Club slot and those negotiations are still taking place between the horse’s connections and the CJC.”
Gerard reports that her star three-year-old pair are making pleasing progress back in full work following some time out to recover from their trip south.
“They’re back in the stable and doing well, I’m very pleased with them both for what’s shaping as an exciting summer.
“What we have penciled in at this stage is for Affirmative Action to run in the Auckland Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and Romanoff will have his first start back in the Levin Classic (Gr. 2, 1400m) at Trentham on the first Saturday in January.
“That way the first time they’ll meet again will be the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at the end of January and all going to plan they’ll then target the Kiwi.”
CJC chief executive Tim Mills has confirmed that his club is adhering to the original intention behind the slot.
“Our modus operandi in having a slot is to utilise it as a prize for running in our Guineas races,” Mills said.
“As an incentive for competing in our races it works very well for the club. In the case of the horse with first option, Romanoff, as the winner of the 2000 Guineas, he’s eligible for the $1 million bonus if he can finish in the first three in the NZB Kiwi.”
Well Written, unbeaten after three starts capped by the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), holds clear favouritism for both feature three-year-old races. She is currently quoted at $1.90 for the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and at $2.30 for the NZB Kiwi.
Affirmative Action shares the second line at $5 with La Dorada in the former race and is the $8 third favourite for the NZB Kiwi.
In the Karaka Millions 3YO, Romanoff shares the fourth line at $10 with He Who Dares, while his NZB Kiwi quote is $12.
Meanwhile, Gerard is hoping to continue Ballymore Stables’ momentum with a handful of runners at Friday’s Tauranga twilight meeting and Saturday’s SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup fixture at Te Rapa.
Clear Conscience in the Rob Pinny Reality 1200 and The Frenchman in the Kiwi Bus Builders Maiden make up her Tauranga team.
“Clear Conscience is probably the pick of our runners at Tauranga,” she said. “She showed ability with several good runs at three and her lead-up trials have been good, so we’re hoping for a good fresh-up effort even though she’s drawn a tricky gate.
“The Frenchman is having just his second start and he’s a horse that’s going to need more than 1600m. It hasn’t helped that we found out after the fields had closed that the distance was reduced to 1500m because of the burst water main up the 1600m chute.”
With Shoes ruled out of Saturday’s Rating 75 sprint due to a wide draw, Gerard will also saddle two runners at Te Rapa, Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Dubai Gold in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) and Vougeot in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Stayers Championship Qualifier.
“Nothing went right for Dubai Gold in her first-up run and we’ve put a line through that, and while this is weight-for-age, I’m very happy with the progress she’s made lately and it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see her get some of it,” she said.
“I like Vougeot as an up-and-coming stayer and he’s another one whose last start is best ignored after we rode him in a way that really didn’t suit.”
Gerard also reports that stable apprentice Joe Nishizuka was due to undergo surgery to a broken collarbone at Waikato Hospital on Friday following a training track fall on Thursday morning.
“It’s a nasty break that will take some mending, which is unfortunate for Joe, but to his credit he’s resilient with a positive attitude,” she said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
