KEY POINTS:
Jockey Noel Harris was not committing himself to Il Quello Veloce for New Zealand's richest race for two-year-olds, despite the horse's impressive winning debut at the weekend.
Il Quello Veloce, ridden by Harris, went into the $12,000 K B Ford Juvenile (1100m) for two-year-olds at Woodville as a $2.40 favourite on the strength of a big reputation and did not let punters down.
But afterwards Harris said he would hold off making a decision about his ride in the $1 million Karaka Million for two-year-olds at Ellerslie on January 27 as he has at least two other candidates.
One of them is Fully Fledged. Harris rode the Align colt, trained by Murray Baker, to a 3 1/2-length debut win at Taupo on December 30.
The other is Amazing Sky, whom he rode when second in the $55,000 Welcome Stakes (1000m) at Riccarton in November.
The Mark Walker-trained filly, by Danroad, won her next start at Riccarton last month.
Il Quello Veloce finished strongly to score by a length but Harris said the Captain Rio filly did not appear to be a straight-out speedster.
"The way she finished it off, more ground is going to suit her," he said.
However, there was no questioning the determination Il Quello Veloce displayed on Saturday, with Harris admitting to having doubts about victory halfway down the home straight.
Winning Wave had gone quickly in the lead and when he kicked well in the straight for rider Bruce Herd, Harris said he was surprised.
"Bruce has kicked better than I thought he would," he said. "Halfway down I thought she wasn't going to win."
But a couple of whacks with the whip and Il Quello Veloce found something extra.
"I gave her a one-two and she's really dug deep."
Il Quello Veloce is trained at Matamata by John Sargent, who purchased the horse for $60,000 at the National Yearling Sales at Karaka, south of Auckland, last year.
Sargent packaged Il Quello Veloce and another $60,000 yearling sales purchase for syndication at $12,000 for a one-tenth share.
The two horses are now raced by the Flying Fillies' Syndicate, of which Bill Shilton of Matamata is one of seven people who have one share between them.
Shilton said there were probably up to 15 people involved in the syndicate, which was formed by Sargent along the same basis as the syndicate which races the trainer's New Zealand Cup winner Everswindell.
Said Shilton: "It's like the Everswindell syndicate but not as many people," he explained.
* Jockeys David Walsh and Noel Harris both rode two weekend winners as they continued their march towards 2000 wins in New Zealand.
Walsh's two wins came at the Greymouth meeting at Omoto, while Harris racked up a double at Woodville.
Walsh is now just 10 short of 2000 wins, with a tally of 1990, while Harris is nine behind Walsh on 1981.
Only three other jockeys have ridden 2000 winners in New Zealand. They are Lance O'Sullivan (2357 wins), Bill Skelton (2156) and David Peake (2093).
Walsh's win aboard $2.30 favourite Borninthestates in the $25,000 Greymouth Cup was his 17th win in six days of riding on the South Island's Christmas-New Year circuit.
All but two of the wins have been for the Christchurch stable of Michael Pitman, who is the trainer of Borninthestates.
But those feats were overshadowed by North Canterbury trainer Paul Harris who had five wins on the 10-race Omoto programme.
It was a career-best tally on a day for Harris but it did not come without drama.
He was taken to hospital after one of his horses broke away from its handler before race two.
Meanwhile, Walsh continues his southern sojourn at Reefton today.
- NZPA
