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Cups bid for Kiwi mare; Tofane pleases in first hit-out; Group One placing for Hello Youmzain; NZTR regional roadshows
Cups bid for Kiwi mare
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller has trodden a patient path with Verry Elleegant and he believes it has readied her for the rigours of a Cups campaign.
The stable managed her carefully as a spring four-year-old last year and did not extend her beyond the 2040 metres of the Cox Plate.
But a solid, five-start autumn campaign, highlighted by a Group One Tancred Stakes victory, has given Waller confidence the mare is seasoned enough for a Caulfield and Melbourne Cups preparation.
"We held her back last year to try and help her develop, which she has done physically as well as mentally," Waller said.
"Whilst she would have got into the Cups last year with a much better weight, I am now sure she is capable of not only coping with the preparation required, but also the race itself."
Verry Elleegant blew out the cobwebs with a barrier trial last week and Waller will look to give her a solo gallop between races at Saturday's Up And Coming Stakes meeting at Randwick.
"She has come through her trial really well," Waller said.
"She will probably have an exhibition gallop next week if the track is OK to gallop on, then go first up into the Winx Stakes."
The opening Group One race of the Sydney season, the Winx Stakes (1400m) is at Randwick on August 22.
Waller will also have a strong hand at Randwick this weekend with another of his Cups hopefuls, Shared Ambition, scheduled to resume in the Spring Preview Handicap (1400m).
The trainer holds two entries for the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1300m), a race he won on protest with True Detective 12 months ago.
He has nominated Sauvestre, successful at his only start at Canterbury in April, and Oscar Zulu who was unplaced last start after suffering severe interference when Hot 'N' Hazy fell.
Tofane pleases in first hit-out
Trans-Tasman trainer Michael Moroney is looking forward to the spring with Group One-winning mare Tofane after her pleasing jump-out on Monday.
"She began nicely and Dwayne (Dunn, jockey) got her to relax before letting her run through the line," Moroney said.
"She's come back stronger and is relaxing better in the mornings and Dwayne said that's how she felt this morning which is exactly what we wanted to hear.
"She'll have a more serious one in two weeks' time, but I am very pleased with the way she is progressing."
The lightly-raced daughter of Ocean Park has won five of her 14 career starts, including a last start victory in the Gr.1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April.
Group One placing for Hello Youmzain
Dual Group One winner Hello Youmzain just came up short of adding a third elite-level victory to his burgeoning CV when finishing runner-up to Space Blues in Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m) at Deauville over the weekend.
Owned by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay in partnership with Haras d'Etreham, the son of Kodiac is destined join the Waikato farm's stallion roster.
Trainer Kevin Ryan has been impressed by the horse from day dot and he said he is hoping to secure more Group One spoils before his star galloper retires to stud.
"He's been a superstar from day one. From the time he arrived in the yard he was always very naturally talented and a very exciting horse," Ryan told Racing Post.
"The ground would be plenty quick enough for him and now we'll look forward to Haydock, where his record is unreal and he maybe ought to be unbeaten.
"And there's a chance he might come back to France for the Arc meeting. Nicolas (de Chambure, Haras d'Etreham Stud principal) mentioned the Foret there and six and a half seemed to suit him well. He wasn't stopping at all and round a bend as well, that's food for thought.
"We'd look forward to meeting the winner again, that's what great horses do, they take each other on. That's what the spectators want."
