Aloisia Oaks bound
“She went very well,” Henderson said.
“She was in what you would call a Group Two-level trial, there were some very smart sprinters in it.
“Over the 800m there were three in front of her, she sat on their tail and that is where she finished.
“She didn’t lose or make any ground and went to the line well and pulled up well. For a filly that we have earmarked for the Thousand Guineas and more so the Oaks, we couldn’t be happier with her.”
Henderson said the daughter of Azamour had strengthened a lot since her impressive two-year-old campaign, which included a runner-up performance in the Group One J.J. Atkins (1600m).
“She’s much stronger, she is probably 30 kilos heavier than when she was in the winter in Brisbane, she has really done well.
“She came over here and won at Flemington first up and then ran second in a Group One, you would be hard pressed to be any happier than that.”
The Ciaron Maher-trained runner is being set for four starts this spring, culminating with a tilt at the VRC Kennedy Oaks in November.
“She will start on September 23 in a 1400m set weights and penalties race for fillies,” Henderson said.
“She’ll then have three weeks into the Thousand Guineas and then she will probably start in the AAMI Vase on Cox Plate day and then go from there to the Oaks.”
Meanwhile, OTI Racing experienced success on Wednesday on both sides of the Tasman. Stone Warrior ran home strongly to win at Sandown, while Vin De Dance was dominant in his debut victory at Counties. They continued their run into Thursday when Angelic Spirirt was a brave winner at Seymour.
Henderson believes Stone Warrior has excelled with a change in environment and has developed into a more mature horse since his move.
“He has really matured physically and mentally,” he said.
“I think Pinecliff where he is now trained, he was at Flemington, suits this horse far more. He is now a very relaxed horse. He was always a bit dizzy.”
His victory at Sandown has taken the Shamoline Warrior gelding’s win tally to three and Henderson believes he could be in for a bright future.
“That’s the first time he has run inside horses since we have had him. He looks ready to move through the classes now,” he said.
“I’d like to see him possibly even making Country Cups class this campaign, but he has a lot ahead of him, it was a good run on Wednesday.”
Over the Tasman the heavy track conditions at Counties were a big concern for Henderson leading into Vin De Dance’s race.
“I was a little nervous about him going out onto a heavy track, especially after the trial before last when he ran down the track,” he said.
“The tactics by the stable and jockey to get him out of the gate and basically dominate the race were very wise.
“I couldn’t help but be more impressed with the horse because on a surface that we don’t think really suits him he showed some really good sticking power.”
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained runner is nominated for the Group One NZ Two Thousand Guineas, but could find himself in Australia in the near future if he continues his form.
On Thursday, Echoes of Heaven three-year-old Angelic Spirit took her tally to two wins from three starts when victorious at Seymour over 1414m.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained filly charged for the lead early on and was brave to hold on, winning by a short margin.
– NZ Racing Desk