PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

Lupo Solitario

There was a bit of suggestion that this son of Satono Aladdin was good, and he proved that to be correct on Saturday. Facing a handy field of 3YO’s he settled on speed and once he balanced up and got going, it was all over from the 200m mark. The runner up, What You Wish For was sensational chasing him to the line and now we are set for an exciting clash of the 3YO’s in next months James and Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa. With Lupo Solitario and Crocetti both boasting unbeaten records and the likelihood of Tokyo Tycoon and What You Wish For heading that way also, we will get an early look at who currently sits atop of this 3YO crop.

RIDE OF THE WEEK

Michael McNab - Kattegat

The pair were sent out race favourites in the last at Woodville but had the outside barrier to overcome first. From barrier rise, Michael McNab was intent on rolling forward early to get a spot nearer the rail and by the time they had gone 150m he was third, one off the rail. With swoopers coming around him, he had to clear some traffic at the top of the straight and it was clearly the champion hoops strength in a finish that lifted Kattegat across the line. Scoring by ½ head on the line to give Hazel Schofer, a recent addition to the Fannin/Schofer training partnership her first training success to go with her 123 wins in the saddle.

FUTURES FOLLOW

Lurid

His recent trials were plenty to suggest he was forward enough to run a bold race fresh up over the staying trip. However, the rain arrived and made it a tough test on the softer footing. From his wide draw he was planted wide throughout and forced to make an even wider run entering the straight. His fitness under the top weight probably just tolled inside the last 100m and it appears he is back and in store for a big prep. While all four of Lurid’s wins have been on heavy tracks, he does hold a nomination for the New Zealand Cup and I think at $31 is worth a small futures bet for an interest, because if he gets to the 3200m feature in November, I can’t see him being anywhere near $31.

GAP JOB

Adam I Am

Another runner from last week who had plenty of hype surrounding him was the guy. Sent out at $1.70 favourite in the end, he won exactly like odds on favourites should. Jasmine Fawcett knew she was on the best horse in the race and rode him accordingly, sent forward to stalk the speed and take any bad luck out of the equation, the pair put the race to bed by the 200m marker and it was just a matter of “how far” from that point on. Adam I Am run away to score by 5 lengths in the end and I’d say he is a horse we will hear a bit more about going forward, especially as we build towards the inaugural $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic in January.

FIRST UP FOLLOW

Henry Hubber

Something really clicked for this horse through the autumn, where he strung together 4 wins in a row. On Sunday he was resuming for his first run since April, and he put in a blinder. As usual for him, he went back in the field early but was posted wide when sustaining a long run around the corner. Those horses in front of him kicked off the corner and he wound up late to go down by just a long neck on the line. Sectionally he was super again and I think Sally McKay has done super to have him going so well, he will rack up another win very soon.