Sacred Elixir
Trish Dunell
It's full steam ahead for two of Tony Pike's leading Group One prospects for Auckland Cup week.
Deposed Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby favourite Sacred Elixir has taken no harm from his seventh placing in last Saturday's Gr.2 Avondale Guineas, while ruling Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup favourite Chenille has come through her seventh placing in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup in good order.
"Chenille has come through the run really well. Her sectional times were pretty good on a track where not much was coming wide and making ground all day," Pike said.
"It was pretty much the same with Sacred Elixir. He's come through the race fine. We'll press on and put blinkers on him for the Derby. He'll be third-up for that and we're expecting him to go a much-improved race."
Deposed Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby favourite Sacred Elixir has taken no harm from his seventh placing in last Saturday's Gr.2 Avondale Guineas, while ruling Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup favourite Chenille has come through her seventh placing in the Gr.2 Avondale Cup in good order.
"Chenille has come through the run really well. Her sectional times were pretty good on a track where not much was coming wide and making ground all day," Pike said.
"It was pretty much the same with Sacred Elixir. He's come through the race fine. We'll press on and put blinkers on him for the Derby. He'll be third-up for that and we're expecting him to go a much-improved race."