Racing: Drawn to perfection

Last year Vosne Romanee beat Harris Tweed (since second in the Caulfield Cup), Tell A Tale (now racing in Singapore) and Red Ruler in the NZ Stakes. Tomorrow's field looks easier. Photo / Greg Bowker

Regardless of where you were you probably heard Jeff Lynds let out a breath when the barrier draw was done for tomorrow's $200,000 Nicolas Feuillatte NZ Stakes at Ellerslie.

Vosne Romanee had finally drawn a barrier.

Unlike last season when Vosne Romanee won Horse Of The Year through three successive group one victories - which ended with this race - he has not been able to draw a decent gate all campaign.

It started with the Hastings spring treble, barrier 13 of 14, 8 of 14 and 16 of 16. It went on to gate 10 of 18 in the too-short Captain Cook (in which he ran well though unplaced), 12 of 14, 12 of 12 and 7 of 8.

The net result is that Vosne Romanee, so devastating the previous season, has not run a place in seven starts, although, barriers apart, it seems he might not have been quite himself in the spring.

The No 1 barrier looks a shiny beacon to trainer Jeff Lynds this time.

"He's a horse that needs everything going right for him and then he's very talented," said Lynds.

Forget the 0008707 formline going into this.

The tip was there when Vosne Romanee finished only 3.1 lengths off stablemate Booming in the Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

He drew gate No 12 that day and got back on a slow speed when that wasn't the place to be. He came wide on the corner and did not stop making ground.

The 1600m of the Haunui Classic at Otaki last start was too short and he looks poised to be a big threat to the favourite Red Ruler.

Everything fell into place for Red Ruler in the Darci Brahma at Te Rapa last start after a series of runs where little went his way.

Red Ruler drew very favourably at barrier No 1 that day and has a much more awkward No 8 this time.

The smallish field will be an assist there, but a closer-in draw would have been preferable.

It's difficult to make a winning case for any of the others, all of whom, outside Sir Slick, are giving away plenty of weight to the favourites in racing at weight-for-age.

Our Ella Belle, The Party Stand, Sharp Princess and Zara Dancer would all be receiving big weight concessions from Vosne Romanee and Red Ruler if this was a handicap.

Our Ella Belle is a promising staying mare who is only just starting to find her true form. The weight conditions and the outside No 10 barrier draw at the tricky 2000m starting point make it difficult, but she's good enough to be getting some of this.

The Party Stand is also a mare with a real future.Champion jockey James McDonald has been invited by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ride at its March 27 meeting.

TRACKWORK

The Party Stand and Anabandana worked nicely when galloped at three-quarter pace on a firm No 1 grass at Cambridge yesterday.

The Party Stand (Andrew) strode comfortably from the 1400m at three-quarter pace, completing the final 600m in 45.4.

Her planned trip to Sydney has been abandoned in favour of an Ellerslie engagement tomorrow in the New Zealand Stakes in which she will have the services of Opie Bosson.

Anabandana followed over 600m at a leisurely pace. She should extend her winning sequence in the Diamond Stakes.

Galloping on a good No 2 grass, Bob Valdez (Hills) travelled sweetly alongside Tick Tock Arnie (Murray) over 1000m in 1:08, sprinting the 1000m in 37.2. Gendarme (Tiko) and Guru Girl (Thornton) kept up a solid pace from the 1200m in 1:16.2, dashing over the 600m in 36.7.

Under the Sun (Cameron) and Silent Achiever (McFarlane) were paired over 1000m in 1:08.8, finishing off in 37.1. Kaado (Hills) and Blue Nile (Roustoby) came to the end of 1000m in 1:07, the 600m in 38. Don't Touch It and Castelle Benito, both medium-weighted, were clocked from the 600m in 38.2.

Veldt (Orting) left 1200m behind in 1:20.6, coming home in 37.9.

The Needle (Webb) and a Falkirk gelding (Smith) impressed over 800m in 47.2.

Working on the sand, Limonchino (Norvall) ran 800m in 53.1. Indian Sky (Malissa) ran the last 600m of work in 40.1.

Oh So Dapper returned another encouraging trial for Ellerslie tomorrow when he galloped at Pukekohe yesterday. Fog prevented some timing.

Working 4m out on a firm No 1 grass, Oh So Dapper (Sargent) completed 1200m in 1:17.8, the final 600m in 37.5.

He had worked soundly on Tuesday and might be one for longer odds in the Telecom 2100m.

Tale Of Terror (Ralph) was keen to go faster in the finish of 600m in 38.8.

He makes a fresh start in the Stella Artois and even though the field is strong could pay a dividend.

Agamemnon (Vance) covered 1200m attractively in 1:13.3, the last 600m in 36. He will race next at Te Rapa tomorrow week.

Prince Kaapstad (Yuill) went freely through 1000m in 1:19, the last 600 in 37.1.

Using the sand, I'm For Sale (Colson) galloped 1200m in 1:18.2, quickening for the closing 600m in 36.2.

He is one of three other locals in the Stella Artois 1400m.

Another, Shandream (N. Collett) three-quarter paced from the 800m in 54.4, the closing 600m in 40.1.

Go Eureka (Massey), the fourth of them, sprinted along the straight.

Shandream was the only Richard Collett-trained Ellerslie runner who galloped. The others, Alegrio, Justa Kinda Magic, Chapel Bay and Riotous - Mai Na Chura is a doubtful starter - all cantered twice round.

So did Bartote and Bernard's Choice from the Gareth McRae/Garry Newham stable.

"They are both backing up from the first day and that's all they needed," Newham said.

Matamata track work was unavailable.