Kiwi Chronicles
No substitute for luck
A slow getaway did the damage for Legarto (Proisir) and her connections’ bold mission in Saturday’s rich Golden Eagle (1500m). That is her pattern but at Rosehill you don’t want to be four and five back on the fence before the straight. Legarto’s bad luck was the winner’s good luck. Japan’s Obamburumai (Discreet Cat) was... Read More
More from Kiwi Chronicles
New Zealander vs New Zealand
It took New Zealander, world champion jockey James McDonald to deny New Zealand-bred Mr Brightside (Bullbars) in a classic renewal of the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m). Live, it looked like Mr Brightside had prevailed. Even experienced Melbourne commentator, Matt Hill, gave his initial call to the six-year-old Kiwi gelding but the photo proved otherwise.... Read More
From a simmer to a boil
The pot is simmering now but it may be boiling very soon. Proisir (Choisir) enjoyed an outstanding New Zealand 2022-23 season, siring five individual Group 1 winners. Four of the five claimed their victories before the 2023 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales series. The fifth, Prowess, became an elite winner after the sales although she also... Read More
Making the case
Although ambitious, the plan for Ladies Man (Zed) – convincing winner of the Livamol Classic (Gr 1, 2040m) at Hastings on Saturday – to head to the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), has plenty of merit. The bookmakers might not agree but the six-year-old’s path has been plotted expertly by Allan Sharrock, a master at... Read More
Worth the wait
A seven–day delay was worth the wait after an emphatic return to the winner’s circle from Legarto (Proisir) in the Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m). The mare was pulled from the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr 1, 1600m) the previous week due to the deteriorating Hastings track, as was Saturday’s fellow competitor La Crique (Vadamos). Legarto’s slashing... Read More
When a negative becomes a positive
Despite the arrival of daylight saving time, our New Zealand winter refuses to let go and neither does the rain which caused both Saturday’s Hastings features to be affected, making quite a contrast to the lovely spring conditions for the club’s first day, three weeks earlier. Presented with a Heavy 8 surface, hot favourite Tokyo... Read More