Tuesday NZ news briefs – Group winner turned out
Heni’s work is done for the season with the gifted daughter of Towkay enjoying a deserved break.
“She’s out for a spell, she had been in work for a while and she’s a gutsy mare,” trainer Mike Breslin said.
“She’s done a great job and we’ll see how she comes up in the spring and then decide whether she gets in foal or carries on.”
Heni posted a winning spring double during New Zealand Cup week, including victory in the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), and later added a further success at Awapuni.
She finished fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha at her last appearance.
Monarch ready for Warrnambool
Monarch Chimes is in the right order to continue his winning form in Australia.
He was a first-up winner in a steeplechase at Pakenham and will make his next appearance at Warrnambool.
“He won it well and he’s done well since,” co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne said.
“He’ll now go straight into the Brierly Steeples at Warrnambool. He’ll trial there first and that will be a good hit-out for him.”
The Brierly Steeplechase is over 3450m on May 1 and two days later is the feature event, the Grand Annual Steeplechase over 5500m.
“He’ll also be nominated for the Grand Annual, but we’re unsure about running him in it,” Browne said. “It could be a bit too far for him.”
Brown rolling the dice
Shane Brown is taking a chance with Handfull in the Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac 1550m.
The Woodville trainer said the four-year-old was a genuine performer, but Wednesday’s event will be the sternest test of his career.
“He loves Awapuni and I’m sure he’ll go an honest race, although it might be six months too soon for him.”
A last-start second in the course, Handfull also has a win and another placing to his credit on the Awapuni circuit.
Dream start down to Kiwi-bred
Donna Logan’s hopes of a perfect opening to her Singapore training career will rest with a New Zealand-bred three-year-old.
Her first runner at Kranji will be Showcasing’s son Whakaaria Mia, who will contest a maiden 1200m event this evening in the hands of Kiwi jockey Craig Grylls.
Whakaaria Mia trialled twice in New Zealand and won a 1000m heat at Avondale last year before a fourth placing over 1000m on Logan’s former home track at Ruakaka in October.