Monday NZ briefs – Dee to partner in-form Cup contender
Five To Midnight will be ridden by Michael Dee in Saturday’s A$2 million Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta confirmed the Randwick booking this morning of the New Zealand jockey, these days based in Victoria.
Five To Midnight finished a close second in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) two runs back before he was again second in the Group 2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m).
Pukekohe next for black type winner
Stakes winner Haussmann will head to Pukekohe Park for his next appearance.
“He’ll probably run in the three-year-old race over 1400m and then we’ll make a decision about the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes,” trainer Tony Pike said.
Successful in last season’s Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m), Haussmann recently resumed from a break at Awapuni where he pleased Pike with his effort from the tail of the field for sixth.
“The track was placing a bit funny and it was hard to make up ground from the back, but he closed the race off very well,” he said.
Easter target for Group winner
The Group 2 Easter Handicap (1600m) is the goal for the talented All Roads.
He was unplaced when resuming his New Zealand career at Te Aroha on Saturday, but the outing will significantly improve him.
All Roads won six races, including the Group 2 Japan/New Zealand Trophy (1600m), before a stint with Chris Waller in Sydney where he finished fourth in the Group 1 Cantala Stakes (1600m).
“He’s loving being home,” trainer Tony Cole said.
“He lightened up after his last run in Perth so the syndicate decided to bring him home.”
Kiwi sale graduate impresses
Moreira Jockey Joao Moreira was singing Beat The Clock’s praises after they combined to win Sunday’s Group 2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.
“He showed to me that he is one of the best sprinters in town,” he said of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate.
“It wasn’t really a fast-run race, for me in the back that made it a bit harder to catch those up front, but even after I went early on him and made a long run.
“He still attacked the line all the way to the end. That’s the mark of a very good horse, he’s very classy.”
A son of Hinchinbrook, Beat The Clock is trained by John Size, who also saddled the runner-up Mr Stunning.