***Princess Tiffany produced a stunning first up performance for Dean Braun and Chris Alford at Melton on Saturday winnng the Make Mine Cullen even easier than Jacinda Ardern won the election earlier in the night.
Back from a wide draw she was still near last and wide at the turn with warm favourite Amelia Rose tucked in the trail. The Princess then unleashed a huge run down the outsid in what must have broken 27 to win the 1720m event in a 1.52.4 mile rate and simply cruising. She will continue with the mare series and in this form how will they beat her ?
Another Masterpiece posted another win in easier company for Jess Tubbs while in Sydney Ashley Locaz had to settle for third in his last outing before returning to New Zealand on Sunday.
***Enhance Your Calm trialled at Ashburton Tuesday but it was his farewell appearance in New Zealand. He leaves on Thursday for Melbourne where he will do his future racing having not quite measured up to open class this season.
Danny Zavitsanos, his co- owner has also decided against Cruz Bromac of which he is managing owner, returning to defend his NZ Cup title after just a fair run in the Victoria Cup in contrast to last year’s storming finish at the same stage.
Enhance Your Calm was a brilliant juvenile trotter bought into the All Stars stable at a handsome price
He won easily first up and at his second start won the 2yo Trotting Stakes (G3).At his third he beat Oscar Bonavena-then with Phil Williamson- in the Sires Stakes Final and at his fourth he won the Harness Jewels 2yo Trot.
Resuming at three with Mark and Natalie careful to preserve his big frame for the future he resumed at Orari to win in February last year and two starts later was beaten a nose by Lotamuscle in the Trotting Derby.
Taken to Auckland he was fourth in the Sires Stakes Final and then easily won the Northern Trotting Derby.
As a four year old and this season the big horse did not trot with the same authority though not always favoured by conditions and having suffered a few problems,. He won 9 of just 21 starts and $194,000 and should soon make his mark in Australia where he is expected to join the stable directed by Dean Braun. With an easier row to hoe regarding handicaps and other factors he could easily stage a major comeback across the Tasman
***Ashley Locaz is down to run in a Cordina Pace at Menangle on Saturday for the Craig Cross stable having recently moved south from Brisbane. Ashley Locaz is to return to New Zealand for the New Zealand Cup and is a possible runner in the Flying Stakes at Ashburton as he will be back several days before that race. He starts from an awkward draw (preferential) in the $22,500 event. Princess Tiffany is to run in the mare’s feature at Melton Saturday. She has the worst of the draws under the preferential system but her class will be a big factor.
Another Masterpiece has also earned a tricky draw in a lesser pacing event on the card where he can take advantage of a very makeable rating. And Tailored Elegance lines up in the Victorian Trotting Oaks after a fourth at Cranbourne in her leadup
***Turn it Up was an encouraging third first up in more than a year at Albion Park on Saturday but the chances of Cruz Bromac defending his New Zealand Cup crown took a dive in the Victoria Cup
***One Change will not travel to Melbourne after all for the Breeders Crown next month after several factors including the high cost of the expedition made the trip hardly viable.
The Breeders Crown this years has three runs in three weeks with a long trip either way and the various Covid 19 related extras sealing his fate. In the meantime he will have lesser stakes available to race for in Brisbane with richer events later in the year with the age group season extended to December.
***Italian Lad one of the most promising mid range raters in the All Stars stable returned to the barn on Monday and will be aimed at the New Zealand Cup meeting now a matter of only weeks away.
The Bettor’s Delight gelding had a slight hiccup and was put aside after the Kurow meeting in August when he posted two wins and a second on his winter campaign.
Up until then the youngster had had more than his share of bad luck. Placed in two Sires Stakes heats not long after his maiden win he went a big race in the final in the clever hands of Blair Orange to be within 3 lengths of the winner from well back.
Injury set him aside and his return was delayed until July when he showed his enforced layoff could have been a blessing in disguise
He will not take long to be showing up at trials and looks in for a lucrative spring,
***Regal Attire has been forced out of training for spring and summer features after undergoing a bone chip operation. Held in very high regard by Mark who is also a co-owner, the setback has come at a bad time for upcoming features.
Regal Attire’s latest outing had been below his best and it was apparent that something was amiss. It had just been hoped that it was not something requiring an operation as turned out to be the case.
***Oscar Bonavena is making good progress on his return to training which so far only includes outings on the treadmill.
“The advice was not to return him to full work until the New Year and we will be following that advice. This is just conditioning work soe he will be ready for that”Mark said.
“We are hoping to be back for the autumn features all going well”
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