Racing: McKee leads defence

You wouldn't say Lee Freedman and Stephen McKee are mirror images of each other.

But they draw a few parallels.

Both train off their own magnificent properties, both are group one trainers and between them they hold the biggest key of all to tomorrow's $200,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha.

Victorian-based Freedman has last year's dashing winner Dane Julia engaged, as well as fellow former South African mare Emblem Of Liberty.

Ardmore's Stephen McKee will produce good-class acts Culminate and Boundless.

The quartet will be among the first six favourites when the barrier stalls fly open.

Form parallels are useful, but generally for horses racing within the same country.

When horses travel it comes down to which animal has done best with that travel and with the settling into foreign surroundings.

Dane Julia managed both well last year so no issue there. Emblem Of Liberty has yet to win in Australia, although she has had only four starts, so there is still much to learn about her.

One statistic that could prove useful tomorrow is Culminate's form in Sydney this time last year.

Culminate was unluckily beaten half a head by Special Mission in tomorrow's race two years ago and last year, instead of going back for retribution, the stable sent her to Sydney where she was beaten just half a length in the group one A$600,000 Coolmore Classic by Typhoon Tracy, whom many regard as now the best horse in Australia.

It's fair to say Dane Julia could not finish that close to Typhoon Tracy, even though one such example is not absolutely conclusive in Culminate's favour.

But Dane Julia did finish 10th in the Coolmore Classic three weeks ago and perhaps that helps just slightly to sort the race out.

The other element is that Culminate can either lead or trail.

Dane Julia tends to get back in her races and as such always needs luck from the 400m.

Last year, she got it when Michael Walker pulled her out wide in the home straight.

She's going to need the same late luck again because Culminate will be sitting right on the pace and if Dane Julia gets hooked up at any stage, the break Culminate might establish could be too great.

The same goes for every back runner. They can come from anywhere to win at Te Aroha, but provided the pace is even the course can suit on-pace runners.

Culminate has drawn No 12, one outside Dane Julia, but McKee says he is not greatly concerned.

"She has the speed to pretty much be where she needs to be in running."

McKee is also happy with the progress of Boundless, better known as a stayer and who has been freshened for this.

"She's freshened nicely and her latest work has been very strong."

Newcomer to this class Obsession looks right in the race with 54.5kg and an inside draw and Casabella Lane and Veloce Bella will be competitive.

BREEDERS STAKES
* Culminate and Boundless will be among the locals trying to repel an Australian attack at Te Aroha.
* Melbourne's Lee Freedman has last year's winner Dane Julia and Emblem Of Liberty engaged.
* Culminate's ability to race on the pace may be a key factor to the group one result.