Promise To Reign
Race Images Palmerston North
Promise To Reign has just a solitary maiden three-year-old win from this time last year to her credit but that belies her standing among the leading gallopers in the country.
The Moira and Kieran Murdoch-trained mare tackles Saturday's Gr.3 Mills Reef Winery Trentham Stakes (2100m) from the 53kg minimum and looks a strong contender after her fast-finishing last-start fifth in the weight-for-age Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"It was a super run," Moira Murdoch said.
"She lost a bit of ground right on the peak of the corner but she still had the fastest last 800m of the race. She just missed out on a Group One placing. She had her running line taken late too by Saint Emilion, who was hampered in the concluding stages."
Last season Promise To Reign ran second placings in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie leading in to her fifth placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.
This season she has proven competitive in several strong open-class races, finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa before the Zabeel Classic.
"We've just got to chase that Group form for her," Murdoch said.
"The light weight is a big plus. There's some pretty hardened, seasoned geezers in that field so meeting them on 53 kilos helps. She ran well in the Oaks last season at Trentham and she appreciates the long straight and roomy track."
Raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Promise To Reign holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 11 but needs to earn a start with a bold run on Saturday.
The Murdochs will also produce Our Daisy in the Rating 65 2100m race at Trentham and Aleria and Wolff Spirit at Ellerslie. - NZ Racing Desk
The Moira and Kieran Murdoch-trained mare tackles Saturday's Gr.3 Mills Reef Winery Trentham Stakes (2100m) from the 53kg minimum and looks a strong contender after her fast-finishing last-start fifth in the weight-for-age Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"It was a super run," Moira Murdoch said.
"She lost a bit of ground right on the peak of the corner but she still had the fastest last 800m of the race. She just missed out on a Group One placing. She had her running line taken late too by Saint Emilion, who was hampered in the concluding stages."
Last season Promise To Reign ran second placings in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa and Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie leading in to her fifth placing in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.
This season she has proven competitive in several strong open-class races, finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa before the Zabeel Classic.
"We've just got to chase that Group form for her," Murdoch said.
"The light weight is a big plus. There's some pretty hardened, seasoned geezers in that field so meeting them on 53 kilos helps. She ran well in the Oaks last season at Trentham and she appreciates the long straight and roomy track."
Raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Promise To Reign holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 11 but needs to earn a start with a bold run on Saturday.
The Murdochs will also produce Our Daisy in the Rating 65 2100m race at Trentham and Aleria and Wolff Spirit at Ellerslie. - NZ Racing Desk
