Racing: Hormone levels just right

Sir Patrick Hogan knows more about female hormones than anyone else.

So when the proprietor of Cambridge Stud tells you Lashed is in the perfect hormonal zone to create history over the Auckland Cup carnival at Ellerslie, you take it as a given.

Lashed, with a baby Zabeel inside her, will tail out her career in part by trying to win her second group one Zabeel Classic on January 3.

And the way she galloped at yesterday's Breakfast with the Stars, Lashed is on track.

Race mares have an atrocious record in the spring when affected by rapidly-changing hormonal levels.

What can change that is getting in foal, as Hogan explains.

"Between 30 and 34 days of conception the mare releases a hormone that assists the foetus.

"It's like the mare has a hormone of the type you are not allowed to introduce artificially."

Hogan said there is a general acceptance that pregnancy simply settles mares down, but that is true only in part.

"For example, when Smiling Like won the Wellington Cup in foal, she had been settled down by pregnancy. Lashed is a different case.

"She conceived on November 10, 40 days ago and that is the perfect zone to be racing in. The next 40 to 60 days will be perfect for her."

Hogan said 100 days from being served was the absolute cut-off point for retirement.

Lashed looked hard and fit galloping 1000m with sprinter Bois in 1.4.5, the 600 in 48. She drew ahead and went to the finish very comfortably, relishing the easy conditions.

"Very satisfied," said trainer Stephen Autridge, sentiments echoed by rider Michael Walker.

Lashed will prepare for the Zabeel Classic in the 1600m King's Plate at Ellerslie on Sunday.

She will go on to the Whakanui Stud Stakes at Te Rapa in early February.

That was another race she won a year ago on the way to being declared New Zealand's champion weight-for-age performer for the season.