New Zealand Racing Briefs: Aloisia to resume in Villiers Stakes
Connections of New Zealand-bred galloper Aloisia are hoping she can turn around her form when she resumes in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Group 1 winner disappointed in her spring campaign, finishing unplaced in three of her four starts, while placing in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m).
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have been pleased with the Azamour mare since she returned from a light freshen-up and believe that if she shows on raceday what they have been seeing in her work, she should be a winning chance.
“Hopefully she will run better than she has recently. Her first two runs in her prep in the spring were great,” Eustace said. “We thought she was back to her best, but we were disappointed at Flemington, we really fancied her in the Myer and she didn’t really fire.
“We were hoping she was looking for further, we backed her up, and again she didn’t fire.
“We have freshened her up. She’s going 1600m up in Sydney. She looks fantastic, but she has the whole way through and she has continued to gallop well at home, so fingers-crossed she translates that onto the track.”
BEST ONLINE BOOKMAKERS FOR HORSE RACING
Demonetization thriving after operation
Demonetization, one of last season’s standout three-year-olds, has come through his gelding operation well according to his trainer Nigel Tiley.
The four-year-old son of All Too Hard won the Group 2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) back in January and was subsequently installed a warm favourite for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) but failed to make the race due to a stress fracture of the fetlock. After a disappointing runner-up performance last start at Counties, the decision was made to geld the horse.
“He’s just come back and he looks fantastic,” Tiley said. “The gelding went extremely well, you are always a little bit worried when you geld an older horse, you might have some complications, but he’s just taken it in his stride and he looks as though he’s chilled out with being gelded.
“We’ll get him going again and just see where we are at with him.”
English Gambler joins Weir
Promising four-year-old English Gambler has joined the stable of leading Victoria trainer Darren Weir.
Trained in New Zealand by Lauren Brennan at Cambridge, the son of Casino Prince won two races and was runner-up in his four other starts in New Zealand.
Although disappointed in losing the gelding, Brennan was philosophical about the move. “English Gambler has gone to Darren Weir, it’s unfortunate to lose him, but business-wise it’s a good idea for the owners.”
Meanwhile, Brennan will have to play the waiting game for the return of Group performer Aim Smart to her stable.
The China Horse Club-owned four-year-old hasn’t been seen on the track since his runner- up effort at Hastings in September and has undergone an operation on a hock that will result in the gelding recuperating on the side lines for some time.
“Aim Smart is spelling at Lyndhurst Farm,” Brennan said.
“He ended up having an operation to his hocks and had a couple of screws put in, so he’s out for a while.”