Capella
Trish Dunell
A rousing gallop this week and the availability of a leading jockey have resulted in a late change of Group One plans for Capella.
The top filly will now run in Saturday's BMW New Zealand Derby with another twist resulting in Leith Innes taking the ride.
"Originally we were going for the Derby and then we changed tack to go to the Sunline Vase instead and on to the Oaks, but after Capella's work on Tuesday morning we decided to run in the big one," trainer Danica Guy said.
"It's all come about very quickly, but I'm happy I've got her as fit as I can and we'll see if she can run the trip."
The winner of the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic, Capella missed the Gr.2 Royal Stakes due to unsuitable track conditions before an elevated temperature forced her out of the Gr.1 Levin Classic.
She was back in action at Te Rapa last month and, in a slowly run affair, came home well for third in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic under her regular rider Mark Du Plessis.
"She badly needed that run as she hadn't been out for seven weeks and she has improved a lot," Guy said.
"It's unfortunate Mark can't ride her – he had already committed to another horse (Humidor) and we're lucky to have got Leith," Guy said.
The injury-forced withdrawal of Provocative allowed Innes to take the mount. – NZ Racing Desk.
The top filly will now run in Saturday's BMW New Zealand Derby with another twist resulting in Leith Innes taking the ride.
"Originally we were going for the Derby and then we changed tack to go to the Sunline Vase instead and on to the Oaks, but after Capella's work on Tuesday morning we decided to run in the big one," trainer Danica Guy said.
"It's all come about very quickly, but I'm happy I've got her as fit as I can and we'll see if she can run the trip."
The winner of the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic, Capella missed the Gr.2 Royal Stakes due to unsuitable track conditions before an elevated temperature forced her out of the Gr.1 Levin Classic.
She was back in action at Te Rapa last month and, in a slowly run affair, came home well for third in the Gr.2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic under her regular rider Mark Du Plessis.
"She badly needed that run as she hadn't been out for seven weeks and she has improved a lot," Guy said.
"It's unfortunate Mark can't ride her – he had already committed to another horse (Humidor) and we're lucky to have got Leith," Guy said.
The injury-forced withdrawal of Provocative allowed Innes to take the mount. – NZ Racing Desk.