The effort of Darscape Princess to finish second in the Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie last start needs to be taken for what it was.
Brilliant, Truly breathtaking. One of the runs of the season, which ain't over yet.
If you don't agree with that consider this. She was having herfirst start in Group 1. First at 2000m. First right-handed. First at Ellerslie and there is no worse track to come up against first time. She would have been getting 5kg-6kg off her opposition under handicap. And she drew an outside gate at the impossible 2000m barrier at Ellerslie from outside barriers.
And, she was very much inclined to race too fiercely so couldn't be kicked up early. Well, Damian Browne's brilliance in the saddle overcame that obstruction, but to overcome all the rest and finish strongly into second was astonishing.
Having been elevated 7 rating points to sit at 98 points, Darscape Princess is much better off in tomorrow's $200,000 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, particularly against her own sex. The drop back from 2000m to 1600m and corresponding slightly faster pace will help with her tendency to race very keenly. Often remarkably, Te Aroha with one of the longest home straights in the country can suit on-pace runners, but when up in class, such as this, horses getting to the line strongly get their chance and Darscape Princess has only to run her last 300m as she did in the Bonecrusher to get over the top of this field.
Trainer Fraser Auret is a perfectionist and his record this season underscores that. So, perhaps he is forgiven for having just one last spark of doubt going into this race. "She's come from a R65 horse to one finishing second in a Group 1 weight-for-age race in this one preparation and you always have in the back of your mind that you'd hate to go one too many.
"I'm delighted to have had the four weeks between these two races. We were able to get her home and give her a few easy days and her latest work has been fine. She's bright and bubbly and win, lose or draw this time we're excited about what we've got for next season." Amen to that. The Marton mare was late yesterday the TAB's Final Field favourite at $3.20 and $1.40.
Cote D'Or is another class mare who can also hit the finish line extremely strongly. The 1400m on a tight track like Rotorua did not suit last start and her flashing finish into second was very stylish. The 1600m on a much roomier Te Aroha is going to suit her much better.
Coldplay and Thee Auld Floozie are class acts and battle hardened at the coalface. Neither showed up last start, but each had excuses and this race suits better.
What fabulously deep races as The Championships open at Randwick tomorrow. Six New Zealand-trained horses in the A$2 million Australian Derby — a fabulous effort and in keeping with the Kiwi staying product of the last decade.
