Ritchie holds the aces
He's An Ace looked in perfect order at Ellerslie on Monday and he raced accordingly to keep his unbeaten record intact.
"He's a beautifully-conformed horse, a real sprinting type," trainer Shaune Ritchie said.
"We'll freshen him up now and then come back here for a special conditions race on Karaka Million night."
He's An Ace, whose half-brother (Lot 898) by Super Easy will be offered by Westbury Stud at Karaka next year, sat off the early pace and finished strongly to beat his stablemate Way In.
A filly to follow
Michael Coleman has warned punters not to take any notice of No More Tears' last-start defeat.
The Matamata-based jockey had no luck aboard the filly when they finished fifth at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"Michael came in and said if they had got a run there was no doubt she would have won," trainer Stephen Marsh said.
The dual stakes winner was making her first appearance since she was unplaced in the Gr.1 NZ 1000 Guineas at Christchurch.
"She's right back to where she was before she went to Riccarton," Marsh said.
Barrier key to success
An inside gate was the key factor in Black Mascara's return to winning form at Ellerslie on Monday.
"She finally got a decent draw, she's had no luck with the barriers," trainer Moira Murdoch said.
Black Mascara was given the ideal run in the trail by Trudy Thornton and they finished off too well for Cartell and Travel Wise.
"She's incredibly competitive – a very, very honest horse," Murdoch said.
Black type hopes for 3YO
Daniel Champion and Kezia Murphy have Listed race aspirations for the unbeaten Presentatie.
The Ashburton trainers have the Gore, Dunedin and Southland Guineas on the Showcasing filly's programme.
Successful on debut at Timaru in the spring, Presentatie was again a runaway winner when she resumed at Wingatui on Boxing Day.
He's An Ace looked in perfect order at Ellerslie on Monday and he raced accordingly to keep his unbeaten record intact.
"He's a beautifully-conformed horse, a real sprinting type," trainer Shaune Ritchie said.
"We'll freshen him up now and then come back here for a special conditions race on Karaka Million night."
He's An Ace, whose half-brother (Lot 898) by Super Easy will be offered by Westbury Stud at Karaka next year, sat off the early pace and finished strongly to beat his stablemate Way In.
A filly to follow
Michael Coleman has warned punters not to take any notice of No More Tears' last-start defeat.
The Matamata-based jockey had no luck aboard the filly when they finished fifth at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"Michael came in and said if they had got a run there was no doubt she would have won," trainer Stephen Marsh said.
The dual stakes winner was making her first appearance since she was unplaced in the Gr.1 NZ 1000 Guineas at Christchurch.
"She's right back to where she was before she went to Riccarton," Marsh said.
Barrier key to success
An inside gate was the key factor in Black Mascara's return to winning form at Ellerslie on Monday.
"She finally got a decent draw, she's had no luck with the barriers," trainer Moira Murdoch said.
Black Mascara was given the ideal run in the trail by Trudy Thornton and they finished off too well for Cartell and Travel Wise.
"She's incredibly competitive – a very, very honest horse," Murdoch said.
Black type hopes for 3YO
Daniel Champion and Kezia Murphy have Listed race aspirations for the unbeaten Presentatie.
The Ashburton trainers have the Gore, Dunedin and Southland Guineas on the Showcasing filly's programme.
Successful on debut at Timaru in the spring, Presentatie was again a runaway winner when she resumed at Wingatui on Boxing Day.