Racing: Haylee Baylee set for majors

Milking 260 cows has never felt easier for Taupiri hobby trainer John Morrell than it did yesterday.

Morrell was still buzzing from his training career highlight - winning the group three Rotorua Challenge Plate with Haylee Baylee on Saturday.

"It's worth its weight in gold for her future as a broodmare," said Morrell after his first black-type success.

Morrell, who only has two horses in work, set his exciting Oregon 5-year-old for the race weeks ago. She passed her first middle-distance test in this campaign with a luckless second to St Reims at Hastings on August 17, a race that cost Saturday's pilot Michael Coleman a four-day suspension for careless riding.

Morrell then put the winning polish on Haylee Baylee with a close second to Partee in the Matamata Cup on October 1.

Although five of her six wins have come left-handed - her sole clockwise success coming at Ruakaka - Morrell now plans to set his name-making mare for the $100,000 Eagle Technology Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe on November 19.

"She can go straight into the race she doesn't put on much condition and keeps herself fit," he said.

Coleman, who rode Haylee Baylee to perfection on Saturday, is in no doubt the 5-year-old can make the step up to the majors.

"She's as game as anything and likes a good fight," said Coleman, who flies to Melbourne today for the build-up to the Cox Plate ride on Saturday aboard Xcellent.

Meanwhile, classy Cambridge mare La Sizeranne resurrected plans for a Riccarton campaign with her group three success in the Stoney Bridge Stakes at Hawera on Saturday. Trainer Roger James had shelved a start in the $250,000 Couplands Mile on November 9 after a disappointing start to her 4-year-old campaign.

"She's a mare that does nothing in her work to tell you what she's going to do in her races," said James.

"It's a matter of doing the work you think, then lining her up and hoping it's enough."

La Sizeranne's latest victory took her record to four wins from just 14 starts and her stake earnings to almost $150,000 for North American father-and-son owners Jack and Mark Maronde.

Runner-up Rosetti Bay sealed a trip to Trentham on November 1 for the group three Couplands Central Trial (1600m) for fillies and mares.