Racing: Super filly to swoop in clash of the ages

Concerns Shanzero might get too far off the pace to win tomorrow's $200,000 NZ Bloodstock Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha may be misplaced.

The $2.60 favourite is generally regarded as a back runner, but trainer Richard Collett says that's not entirely accurate.

Despite having one of the longest home straights in New Zealand, Te Aroha often offers a clear advantage to on-pace runners.

That combined with a slow tempo up front in the last few editions of this race have seen back runners facing tough tasks.

Last year Special Mission nosed out Culminate and Keepa Cruising in a half-head, half-head finish, the first three all being assisted by a sit-sprint tempo.

When Shanzero won a 3-year-old stakes race at Trentham three starts back she came from the tail of the field on the home bend to swamp the leaders with a phenomenal burst.

Richard Collett says rider Leith Innes probably won't be attempting anything similar this time.

Shanzero has had a wobbly path to this race.

Collett and his owners surprised a few when they didn't originally nominate the class filly for the Oaks at Trentham.

Collett then thought about last week's The Oaks Classic at Awapuni.

"I thought she could win that, then I'd take her to Sydney for a fillies' 2000m race this Saturday [A$400,000 Storm Queen Stakes].

"The purpose all along is to win a group one race as a 3-year-old preferably against her own age.

"But when it was announced Culminate wasn't coming back for this [Te Aroha] race I felt this was perhaps the best group one option."

Despite planning for longer distances for a lengthy period, Collett is adamant that will not impact on the filly running a terrific 1600m.

"I've got no issues with the preparation at all. I'm as happy as I can be - it just won't be a factor."

But he hesitates when discussing the likely tempo of the feature.

"They've dawdled in this race before and it's made it awkward for back runners.

"The only reason we've allowed this filly to drop back a few times is to get her to relax because we were looking at the 2000m races.

"She doesn't have to get back, in fact, Jason [Collett] kept her fairly handy when she won at Ellerslie last start and there were no issues."

The No 1 barrier draw can be an issue in races like this for horses that drop back to midfield.

They can be dictated to as to when they make their run, rather than when they need to make their run.

But Collett does not see a problem.

He rates the two Australians, Dane Julia and Bacchanal Woman, as the toughest to beat.

"Dane Julia finished a close third in a group three race in Melbourne two starts back, which means she's probably superior to some of the others we're going to meet here."

There are plenty of chances.

One of them is Bella Renza, despite her finishing ninth, three lengths from the winner Jonbalena, in the Thompson Handicap at Trentham.

Co-trainer Scott Lucock says the reason for that failure could be any one of a number of things, or a combination of all of them.

"To be honest, there's no real genuine excuse.

"The track didn't suit her, that's true. Mickey [Michael Coleman] came in and said she blew after the race - they can blow if they're not quite ready, but they can blow if they've had enough too.

"She came in fresh for the Westbury Classic and perhaps that run took the edge off her.

"So we've freshened her right up and her work leading into this has been fabulous.

"I thought she was ridden a bit handy in the Thompson - when she won the Duoro Cup she sat back and flew at them late."

FILLY V TOP MARES
* Outstanding 3-year-old filly Shanzero meets the best older mares in tomorrow's Te Aroha feature.
* Trainer Richard Collett believes she can revert back to 1600m after winning in devastating fashion over a longer trip at Ellerslie.
* Australian mares Bacchanal Woman and Dane Julia add great interest to the capacity field.