NZ Briefs for 13th November 2015

3 minute read

Beach build-up for filly; Stakes test for Starstripe; Baker in Derby running; Trentham attracts overseas entries;

Beach build-up for filly

Shaune Ritchie has used a surf and turf approach to have Let Her Rip back to her best for Saturday’s Gr.1 NZB 1000 Guineas.

The Cambridge trainer sent the filly to the ocean side course at Ruakaka in her build-up to Riccarton after she had jarred up on a hard track at Te Rapa in the Gr.2 James &Annie Sarten Memorial.

That failure aside, Let Her Rip’s form has been sound and she had previously won a three-year-old race, in which the subsequent Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Xtravagant finished third.

Stakes test for Starstripe

Last-start maiden winner Starstripe will make her next appearance in a black type event.

Trainers Michael Moroney and Chad Ormsby are keen to run the filly in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial at Ellerslie on November 28.

Starstrike opened her account at Te Rapa while her talented close relative Ruby Armani, a smart debut winner and then a luckless third at Rotorua, is also considered a genuine future stakes contender.

Baker in Derby running

Sydney-based Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker has nominated two horses for the Gr.1 BMW New Zealand Derby.

Baker, who prepared Celtic Prince to run second in the 2014 Auckland Cup, has entered the last start winners War Pig and Crosley Hotshot.

Sebring gelding Crosley Hotshot won an 1800m maiden at Randwick at his last start and War Pig, a Sufficient gelding, is unbeaten after two starts, at Bathurst and Goulburn.

Nominations for the Derby, which is run on March 5, close on Monday.

Trentham attracts overseas entries

Prominent Australian trainers Peter Moody and Kris Lees could have runners in the Gr.1 JR &N Telegraph at Trentham.

Moody has nominated Office Bearer for the 1200m feature and Lees has entered Selectify and Brook Road.

Office Bearer has won five of his 20 starts and ran third in a Listed 1000m at Flemington on Oaks day. He has been a Listed winner at Sandown and ran fourth in the Gr.2 QTC Cup in Brisbane last winter.

Brook Road, a five-year-old mare, has won six of her 17 starts and ran third in the Gr.3 Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington at her last start. Selectify has had four wins from 13 attempts.