He showed remarkable resolve that night after working hard to lead from a wide gate. Great race.
If you watched South Australian Hucklebuck (No7, R7) win with something to spare earlier at the Flemington carnival you'll want to have something each way on him in the A$1 million Emirates Stakes today. For a horse with his form he's not badly placed on 55.5kg and has a good draw for underrated rider Dom Tourneur to take advantage of.
Contributer (No6) and James McDonald will be difficult to beat.
Turn Me Loose (No2, R7) looks the natural bet in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. His lead-up form, particularly his third in the Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa last start, has been fabulous. This race suits him perfectly.
Even if Vinnie Eagle (No1) is slightly suspect at the 1600m, he is so classy he can't be left out of multiple bets.
At Te Rapa Vinnie Eagle's stablemate Allez Eagle (No3, R7) should be difficult to contain. He races well when fresh and although drawn a touch wide his class will come into play.
Mark Ryan (No5, R8) was so brilliant winning last start there is no reason to suggest his winning run is over. But he will have a really good opponent in Barbaric (No2) whose form when resuming is fabulous.
It took highly touted Packing Chaparral (No5, R10) four races to break maidens, but all he wanted was a decent track. He got that last start and there is no reason to suggest he cannot go on with that form.
The availability of the South Island's top rider has prompted Bryce Revell to have a crack at both Group One features at Riccarton with Second Time Lucky.
The NZB 1000 Guineas on Saturday week was always on the filly's programme and a start in this weekend's Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas became a reality when the Taranaki trainer was able to confirm Chris Johnson's services. "The reason we're starting in the 2000 Guineas is because I can get Chris and he suits her," Revell said.
"He's won on her before and he can't ride her in the 1000 Guineas - Danielle Johnson will." Second Time Lucky's love of Canterbury is also a factor in Revell taking on both feature events.
"She loves it down here and always does very well," he said. "We stay out at Rangiora where it's nice and quiet and we can take her to the beach at Woodend. She spends more time here than at our own stables."
Second Time Lucky has cut her teeth at Riccarton. and made her first raceday appearance there as a juvenile last season. "She's a tough horse and she's rock hard fit," Revell said.
"I think she'll get a mile and we'll see if she's good enough." Additional reporting NZ Racing Desk
