Provocative
Kenton Wright Race Images
Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has a budding star on his hands in the form of talented filly Provocative.
Despite a lack of ringcraft, the three-year-old daughter of Zabeel proved vastly superior to her rivals when powering to victory at Ellerslie on Thursday night over 2100m in Rating 65 grade.
The winner of two of her three starts to date, Provocative will now head towards the Gr.1 BMW New Zealand Derby on March 5.
"She had to win last night to boost her prizemoney in order to get into races like the Avondale Guineas, which is likely to be her next start before the Derby," Pike said.
"Leith (Innes) rode her like the best horse in the race and to come off a slow speed and loop the field with the rail out 12 metres was a good effort."
A $250,000 Karaka yearling purchase, Provocative is out of the Gr.3 Tasmanian Derby winner Betwixt and is raced by Auckland owners Mark Wyborn and Robin Peel-Walker.
"She is the first horse I've trained for Mark and Robin, but they're always very keen on targeting Derbys. Her long-term goal is the ATC Oaks in Sydney."
Pike believes further raceday experience will be the key to the lightly raced three-year-old, who layed-in noticeably over the concluding stages.
"She already wears a noseband and side winkers and she has got a lot better than what she was, even in her track work. I think she will benefit from more racing."
Pike has only had a handful of runners contest the New Zealand Derby, with Historian (second to Jimmy Choux in 2011) and Carrick (third to Silent Achiever in 2012) both filling placings.
The Cambridge conditioner still has four runners nominated for the Derby, including talented colts Raghu and Rangipo who tackle the Gr.2 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa on Saturday.
"It looks a fairly even three-year-old crop. We haven't really seen a dominant horse like we have in recent years," Pike said.
"I can't split my Derby contenders at this point but Provocative is every bit as good as Rock Diva and More Than Sacred were at the same stage." – NZ Racing Desk
Despite a lack of ringcraft, the three-year-old daughter of Zabeel proved vastly superior to her rivals when powering to victory at Ellerslie on Thursday night over 2100m in Rating 65 grade.
The winner of two of her three starts to date, Provocative will now head towards the Gr.1 BMW New Zealand Derby on March 5.
"She had to win last night to boost her prizemoney in order to get into races like the Avondale Guineas, which is likely to be her next start before the Derby," Pike said.
"Leith (Innes) rode her like the best horse in the race and to come off a slow speed and loop the field with the rail out 12 metres was a good effort."
A $250,000 Karaka yearling purchase, Provocative is out of the Gr.3 Tasmanian Derby winner Betwixt and is raced by Auckland owners Mark Wyborn and Robin Peel-Walker.
"She is the first horse I've trained for Mark and Robin, but they're always very keen on targeting Derbys. Her long-term goal is the ATC Oaks in Sydney."
Pike believes further raceday experience will be the key to the lightly raced three-year-old, who layed-in noticeably over the concluding stages.
"She already wears a noseband and side winkers and she has got a lot better than what she was, even in her track work. I think she will benefit from more racing."
Pike has only had a handful of runners contest the New Zealand Derby, with Historian (second to Jimmy Choux in 2011) and Carrick (third to Silent Achiever in 2012) both filling placings.
The Cambridge conditioner still has four runners nominated for the Derby, including talented colts Raghu and Rangipo who tackle the Gr.2 Darci Brahma Waikato Guineas at Te Rapa on Saturday.
"It looks a fairly even three-year-old crop. We haven't really seen a dominant horse like we have in recent years," Pike said.
"I can't split my Derby contenders at this point but Provocative is every bit as good as Rock Diva and More Than Sacred were at the same stage." – NZ Racing Desk