Mongolian Falcon
Trish Dunell
The landscape for the opening classic of the season shifted on Saturday after two Gr.1 Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas-bound colts returned outstanding trials at different venues.
Firstly it was the turn at Riccarton of the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Hall Of Fame, who gave Michael McNab the easiest of rides on their way to victory in the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial.
The son of Savabeel cruised home by three and a quarter lengths with a performance that saw his odds for the November 5 feature come in from $14 to $9.
"He's a very smart colt and he'll be ready for the 2000 Guineas," said Te Akau principal David Ellis, who manages the ownership syndicate.
At Hastings, it was the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-prepared Mongolian Falcon who upstaged his rivals with a runaway victory in the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas.
The 1400 metre event had been widely billed as a match race between the unbeaten pair of Heroic Valour, a stablemate of Hall Of Fame, and Stephen Marsh's Ugo Foscolo but it was the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry-owned son of Fastnet Rock who left them all in his wake.
"He was very happy in front and he kicked really well," rider Leith Innes said. "More ground will help him and bring on a drier track as well."
Innes allowed Mongolian Falcon to stride to the lead and they strolled away in the run home for a sublime victory.
Jon Snow turned in an encouraging effort for second ahead of Heroic Valour with Ugo Foscolo, who raced keenly, back in sixth spot.
"I said to Leith don't fight him if he wants to roll forward," Logan said. "That was impressive, wow."
Mongolian Falcon's 2000 Guineas odds have been cut from $18 to a $5 favourite.
"I'll have to talk to the owner, he might want him to go to Australia," said Logan of the colt who has a nomination for the Gr.1 VRC Derby. "The further he goes the better, I've always said that."
– NZ Racing Desk.
Firstly it was the turn at Riccarton of the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Hall Of Fame, who gave Michael McNab the easiest of rides on their way to victory in the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial.
The son of Savabeel cruised home by three and a quarter lengths with a performance that saw his odds for the November 5 feature come in from $14 to $9.
"He's a very smart colt and he'll be ready for the 2000 Guineas," said Te Akau principal David Ellis, who manages the ownership syndicate.
At Hastings, it was the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-prepared Mongolian Falcon who upstaged his rivals with a runaway victory in the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke's Bay Guineas.
The 1400 metre event had been widely billed as a match race between the unbeaten pair of Heroic Valour, a stablemate of Hall Of Fame, and Stephen Marsh's Ugo Foscolo but it was the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry-owned son of Fastnet Rock who left them all in his wake.
"He was very happy in front and he kicked really well," rider Leith Innes said. "More ground will help him and bring on a drier track as well."
Innes allowed Mongolian Falcon to stride to the lead and they strolled away in the run home for a sublime victory.
Jon Snow turned in an encouraging effort for second ahead of Heroic Valour with Ugo Foscolo, who raced keenly, back in sixth spot.
"I said to Leith don't fight him if he wants to roll forward," Logan said. "That was impressive, wow."
Mongolian Falcon's 2000 Guineas odds have been cut from $18 to a $5 favourite.
"I'll have to talk to the owner, he might want him to go to Australia," said Logan of the colt who has a nomination for the Gr.1 VRC Derby. "The further he goes the better, I've always said that."
– NZ Racing Desk.