An unimpressive trial created a touch of uncertainty around Imperatriz ahead of her first-up run in Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington, but the Te Akau Racing wonder-mare blew all those doubts away and carried on her winning way.
The Pam Gerard and Mike Moroney stable have been enjoying considerable success of late including with class three-year-old Pendragon, however, it was his stablemate of the same age in Pericles who stole the limelight on Saturday with an eye-catching victory in the Listed SKYCITY Horizon Uncle Remus Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Three weeks after announcing her arrival among the season’s elite three-year-olds in breathtaking style on Karaka Millions night, Orchestral treated Ellerslie to an encore in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m).
Talented stayer Asterix returned to the scene of his greatest triumph when he stormed home to take out the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie.
Ascend The Throne scored his first stakes scalp when triumphant in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, and the Savabeel gelding will look to double his Guineas haul when he heads to Ellerslie on Saturday.
Shaune Ritchie is bullish about kicking off a new association on a top note at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The wine was flowing for Peter and Dawn Williams and owner Daniel Nakhle following Ellerslie’s TAB Karka Millions meeting last month, and they are hoping their run of luck continues at the Auckland track this weekend.
Roger James and Robert Wellwood are still in awe of what Orchestral produced when winning last month’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie, and the Cambridge trainers are looking forward to stepping her out once more at the Auckland venue on Saturday.
Now 10 years old and with 90 starts under his belt across seven seasons of racing, the remarkable Pep Torque is showing no signs of slowing down.
An emerging star of New Zealand’s staying ranks has returned from a short summer break and will shoot for a pair of Group Two prizes at Ellerslie over the coming weeks.
