Racing: Coleman judges tactics perfectly

Wall Street showed his class by beating a plucky Fritzy Boy and Keep The Peace in the Windsor Park Plate at Hastings on Saturday. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A meeting in Auckland late this week will decide whether Wall Street continues his spring racing in New Zealand or Australia.

Trainer Jeff Lynds will travel to Auckland to meet the owners of Saturday's $200,000 Windsor Park Plate victor at hastings.

The decision isn't as much Australia v New Zealand - it's 1600m v 2000m.

Wall Street has yet to race beyond 1600m and what is to be decided is whether he takes on the 2040m of the $250,000 Spring Classic at Hastings on October 2 then the Cox Plate, or goes straight to Australia for major 1600m races like the Toorak Handicap, at Caulfield on October 9, and A$1 million Emirates on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.

It was confirmed yesterday morning that Keep The Peace, third to Wall Street on Saturday, will go to Melbourne next Sunday, run in the Turnbull Stakes the following Saturday then, hopefully, make the field for the Caulfield Cup on October 16.

The result of the Windsor Park Plate was what just about everyone expected, but how it happened was not.

In a carefully planned move, Michael Coleman surprised more than a few by sliding Wall Street forward from the start to sit second.

There was an element of risk in that for a horse that normally powers at the leaders in the closing stages of his races.

Although it hasn't been declared, part of the plan was to ensure Keep The Peace, who had drawn No 1, was in such a position on the home turn that rider James McDonald was unable to switch out and around Wall Street into better ground in the home straight.

Keep The Peace's trainer Shaune Ritchie acknowledges the cleverness of both Coleman and Lisa Allpress, rider of Fritzy Boy, who finished second.

"Lisa did her job as well as Mickey [Coleman] in making sure James had no options on the bend.

"For sure it made the difference between her running second and third."

The tactics left Wall Street in front a long way from the finish and the way he bravely stuck at it indicated he is almost certainly going to be just as capable at 2000m.

Lynds says Wall Street has flown through the tough race.

"He's eaten up, he hasn't flinched."

The once difficult customer who was stood down for three months has rounded off the rough edges.

"He can still be a bit wilful and fizz up, but he understands what he's got to do now.

"He's finally got the attitude of a racehorse."

Ritchie was pleased to learn that Keep The Peace was yesterday morning No 33 in order of entry to the Caulfield Cup.

"That's actually not bad because there are a lot of weight-for-age horses that won't be running in front of her and some that haven't been seen this spring and are almost certain not to be running.'

One of those weight-for-age horses is So You Think, who any rival trainer will be pleased to avoid after his remarkably easy win in Saturday's A$325,000 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

"She's probably right on the borderline of getting in now, so that's good," said Ritchie.

Victory in the Turnbull would guarantee automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.

James McDonald is almost certain to be confirmed as Keep The Peace's rider in the Turnbull Stakes.

Ritchie said the mare has also come through Saturday's race well.

"She tucked up a little after the Mudgway because she had to be kept very fresh to race Wall Street, but she's come through this very well. "She left a handful of feed Saturday night, but she didn't get home until 10.30pm."

It was a typically brave run from Fritzy Boy to take second.

The surprise of the race was Wall Street's stablemate Vosne Romanee tailing the field home last.

When questioned by stewards, rider Opie Bosson said last year's Kelt Capital Stakes winner had been uncomfortable in the conditions.

HASTINGS FEATURE

* The big question is whether Wall Street sticks to 1600m or steps up to a middle distance for the first time.
* The hot favourite adopted unusual tactics on Saturday and won easily.
* Keep The Peace finished third and is Caulfield Cup-bound.
* Vosne Romanee disappointed in finishing well back and might not have handled the track.