NZ Briefs for 18th December 2015

3 minute read

Derby hopes under scrutiny; Rosehill test for Start Wondering; Mighty Solomon back on track; Victorian racing abandoned

Derby hopes under scrutiny

Scrutinize will on Saturday begin his march toward a grand final his connections bought their tickets to nearly two years ago.

He was purchased at Karaka in 2014 with the Gr.1 BMW NZ Derby in mind and his build-up starts in earnest at Awapuni in the Rich Hill Stud 3YO Premier.

“That will be a lead into the Great Northern Guineas, the Karaka Mile and the Avondale and Waikato Guineas,” co-trainer Jamie Richards said. “David (Ellis) bought him as a Derby horse and hopefully that’s where he will end up.”

Scrutinize has won two of his four starts and ran second in the Gr.2 Hawkes Bay Guineas.

Rosehill test for Start Wondering

Former Wanganui galloper Start Wondering will be out to maintain his unbeaten Australian record at Rosehill on Saturday.

A four-time winner for Paul Belsham, he won his only start for Chris Waller in August before he was side-lined by illness.

“I think he can get to Group Three level but beyond that it's always a bit unknown,” Waller said.

Start Wondering will be ridden by former New Zealand apprentice Rory Hutchings.

Mighty Solomon back on track

A clean bill of health sees Mighty Solomon return to action on his home track on Saturday.

He failed to make an impression when well-backed in the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile last time out and subsequent tests have failed to suggest anything amiss with the talented five-year-old.

Mighty Solomon will run in the Gr.2 Kamada Park Manawatu Challenge Stakes at Awapuni as a prelude to Trentham where he holds Group One nominations for The JR & N Berkett Telegraph and the Thorndon Mile.

Victorian racing abandoned

Saturday’s Victorian race meetings have been called off due to the extreme heat forecast across the state.

Racing Victoria had rescheduled Flemington to an earlier than usual start when the predicted temperature was 39 degrees, but a revised forecast upwards of 41 degrees has prompted the abandonment of all meetings because of health and safety concerns.