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All the latest from the New Zealand racing world.
Affleck on centre stage in Singapore
Highly-regarded juvenile Affleck is poised to further boost the profile of his young sire Battle Paint when he steps out in Friday’s Gr.2 Golden Horseshoe at Kranji.
The Laurie Laxon-trained youngster will be among the leading contenders in the Singapore feature following a stylish debut win last month.
Affleck was prepared for two trial wins in New Zealand by Chequers Stud principals Mark Fraser-Campin and Chris Campin, who stand his sire Battle Paint.
“After his first jump-out Trudy Thornton said he could be pretty special and he won a trial at Cambridge in November and we sold him the next day,” Fraser-Campin said.
“Battle Paint’s doing a great job and he’s had eight to the trials for seven winners and the one that didn’t win was ridden quietly by Trudy and ran home nicely for third.”
The Tale Of The Cat stallion has also produced the Listed Champagne Stakes placegetter Jet Trac and debut runner-up The Real Deal from his four representatives to race.
Oliver To Ride Derby-Bound Colt
Damien Oliver has been booked to ride the Gr.1 Queensland Derby-bound colt Pinstripe Lane, who will make his next appearance in the Gr.3 Grand Prix.
The Pins three-year-old booked his ticket to the carnival with a strong win at Rosehill on Saturday under apprentice Taylor Marshall.
“I was rapt with him and he’ll go to the Grand Prix in two weeks and then into the Derby after that,” trainer Troy Corstens said.
Pinstripe Lane finished down the track in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby in the spring after finishing third in the Gr.3 The Vase at Moonee Valley.
Corstens said the colt was now more seasoned and ready to step up this time around.
“He raced in the Derby last year and he probably wasn’t ready for that,” Corstens said.
“We gave him a good spell and really set him for the Queensland Derby. His number one target the whole preparation has been the Queensland Derby and now he’s going to get his chance.”
Northern Possibility For Chaparro
Patrick Payne is considering a crack at the Great Northern Steeplechase with the New Zealand-bred jumper Chaparro.
The Victorian trainer believes his last-start Warrnambool Grand Annual winner would be ideally-suited to the 6400 metres of the Ellerslie feature.
“I’ve been thinking about the Great Northern for Chaparro. If it’s achievable, I’d love to do it,” Payne said.
“If it’s not, I’ll spell him and concentrate on next year’s (Grand) Annual.”
Meanwhile, champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman expects the Chaparro’s stablemate Fieldmaster to be a force in this winter’s hurdle features after his dominant last-start win at Sandown.
The son of Black Minnaloushe made his first jumps appearance of the season in Sunday’s 3300m benchmark 120 hurdle and coasted home by 20 lengths.
The former Kevin Myers-prepared gelding won a maiden hurdle at Warrnambool last year and was placed in a restricted hurdle at Sandown, but Pateman declared him a much better prospect this time around.
“He’s flying. He’s just going better than last year,” Pateman said. “He probably wasn’t as well soundness-wise (last year,) but he had such a good break and he’ll be a key player all winter I reckon.
“When the tracks get heavier, he’s even better and he’ll improve off that run.”
Payne said the Australian Hurdle would be Fieldmaster’s next assignment with the Grand National Hurdle his major winter target.
