Understandably Joe Pride, considering Ceolwulf, figures New Zealand horses are better value than the Euro-Irish.
“Before a race these horses just don’t look comfortable in the parade ring,” Pride opined last Saturday at Royal Randwick as the Irish bred Don Diego De Vega, the $2.35 favourite in the Drinkwise Handicap, pranced around with the guidance of two strappers.
Despite their vagaries, including don’t like firm tracks, can be excitable before races, and often fall out of the barrier like a bag of potatoes, Euro-Irish are very much the flavour of recent times.
The legendary Tommy Smith always figured they were “too soft” but he tended more towards Bill The Bastard, the famous Aussie warhorse, than the classic thoroughbred, renowned at Newmarket. Daughter Gai Waterhouse has the tender touch required for them as do others including Chris Waller, who milked the overseas market when the price was right.
Pride reckons New Zealanders overall respond better to Australian conditions without the excessive cost.
Pride, though, doesn’t go along with modern trends like racing two-year-olds which contributes to his knack for improvement. Again will be on show with Accredited, a five-year-old with only 13 starts on his score card, in the Southern Cross at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Coming back from 1400 metres to 1200 metres is the query with him. Gamble pops up again. Only $2.70?
Accredited has won his last three. Mind you Bjorn Baker, a NZ bred, is pretty good at it too. Disneck, prepared by him, goes into the sprint with three straight successes, more a modern phenomenon.
When trainers were governed by the punt, the odds for winning being the target factor not the prizemoney, winning streaks were frowned upon. Two-year-olds with the Golden Slipper in mind were an exception.
Concerning the Euro-Irish, Pride concedes he wouldn’t turn one down but given the preference he would go for a New Zealander.
Don Diego, though, Ve Vega caught his attention last Saturday, his behaviour accentuated possibly because he was having trouble with his headgear, spotted by jockey Jason Collett, a Kiwi horseman with a keen eye as well as efficient hands.
Collett mentioned it to co-trainer Anabel Neasham who spent time rectifying the situation before the grey went onto the track. Don Diego De Vega finished last, albeit only two and half lengths behind the winner Political Debate in what was a mess. For Victory, another Irish import and stablemate of Political Debate trained by Chris Waller, should have won. Jockey Zac Lloyd was neutralised with riding instructions.
For Victory has accepted in Saturday’s TAB Handicap against Yorkshire, a boom four-year-old, and hot favourite. Pride’s Aberlour, ironically from New Zealand with the assistance of the effective Alysha Collett, are major rivals. The pain of last Saturday regarding For Victory lingers. You can have him, I don’t want him.
With the Southern Cross, Yorkshire contributes to a strong program with James McDonald, the world champion, plying his skill with another feature being the two-year-old events, the Widden and Canonbury, promising an insight into the Golden Slipper.
On the corresponding program last year Lady Of Camelot, the Tulloch Lodge filly, took the first leg of the Widden – Golden Slipper double. Alas the Gai Waterhouse – Adrian Bott team don’t have the youngster quality of last season and depend on The Playwright, seasoned with three starts in the Widden.
Usually Waller doesn’t extend his two-year-olds in barrier trials, not the situation with Snitzel Miss, with J-Mac piloting, against The Playwright. Going on her heat efforts, from the one gate, she should be positive early.
Pace aplenty promises in the Ranvet, smitten with five Euro-Irish acceptors, including Baker’s Our Anchorage, who scored at Randwick last Saturday, and is chasing three in a row.
Baker is using apprentice Anna Roper who has a three kilo claim to ease the gelding’s 62.5kg. The trainer appreciates the female contribution on horseback, emphasised by his success with Rachel King, currently in Japan.
Against Our Anchorage Baker will use Winona Costin on O’Ziggy who lacks the class of Our Anchorage but showed extreme tenacity although beaten at Canterbury last start. O’Ziggy hails from New Zealand.
Perhaps it will be argued that Ireland’s Via Sistina is the top horse in Australia at present, a position to be challenged by Ceolwulf in coming months. But apart from Winx, will she be the best Waller has trained? Even with the Cox Plate and McKinnon to her credit last campaign, Via Sistina still doesn’t at present out rate Verry Elleegant, a New Zealander.
