Aussie G1 dates loom for Kiwis
A couple of Cambridge gallopers preparing for Group 1 goals will hold most New Zealand interest in Australia on Saturday.
In Adelaide Belle du Nord will tackle the Group 3 Schweppervesence (Auraria) Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville, while up in Queensland the Stephen Marsh-trained Chocante will kick off his latest Australian campaign in the Listed Ray White Ascot Tails Stakes (1600m) at Doomben.
Belle du Nord left New Zealand after running seventh to Savvy Coup in the Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham and made her Australian debut in the Listed Lealia Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville a fortnight ago when running on for fifth behind Blue Morpho.
“I was expecting a run similar to that,” said Belle du Nord’s co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne. “She had so much travelling and was dropping back from the 2400 metres of the Oaks. I was very happy with that run. “She has improved and she needed to because this is tougher again this weekend.”
Belle du Nord and stablemate Monarch Chimes have been stabled with former Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young at Cranbourne and Browne said both have thrived.
“She is so settled here and her work has been super. I’m very happy with her.”
Zac Spain was aboard Belle du Nord in the Laelia Stakes and will again take the mount this weekend as the Reliable Man filly attempts to secure a start in the Group 1 Schweppes Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on May 5.
“She’s got a tricky gate (11) on Saturday and it’s a good field. She’ll have to run well to be a chance in the Oaks,” Browne said.
“The Oaks is the main aim and she’ll head home after that.” While Belle du Nord will be under pressure to shape up this weekend, Stephen Marsh isn’t expecting a winning run from Chocante in his Doomben assignment. “The mile is short of his best and you wouldn’t expect him to win, but I think he’ll go a cheeky race,” Marsh said.
“If he had drawn an alley I’d be a bit more confident of him being in the money.”
Chocante has drawn 13 in the 16-horse field and will carry the topweight of 59.5kg with Jim Byrne booked for the mount. Byrne rode Chocante during his three-start Queensland Winter Carnival campaign last year, which culminated in a victory in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2200m).
Chocante spent a couple of weeks in Sydney on his way to being floated to Brisbane on Monday and his groom has kept Marsh up with the play.
“He had a couple of runalongs in Sydney and he’s going wel ,” Marsh said. “He’s obviously going to improve with Saturday’s run and after this he’ll go for the Hol indale Stakes and hopefully the Doomben Cup. That’s the plan.”
The Group 2 Hollindale Stakes is over 1800 metres at the Gold Coast on May 5 and the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) is a fortnight later.