Latta Enters Two Contenders
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THE PRESS, Christchurch Saturday, March 17, 2012 RACING D7 NZ OAKS ASHBURTON GALLOPS Direen masters ground Latta enters two contenders Matt Markham ❏ John and Karen Parsons of whom can feature in their head the South Island charge respective races with the right Lisa Latta loves Oaks day at If you weren’t in front when at today’s feature meeting at amount of luck. Trentham. turning for home at Ashbur- Trentham. Other Canterbury trainers The Awapuni trainer ton yesterday you were in big Regular visitors to the with runners in today at recorded her first Group I win trouble. other side of the Cook Strait Trentham are Kevin Hughes in the New Zealand Oaks – Such was the difficulty to the North Canterbury train- (Altheleavesrbrowne, Con- with Wharite Princess in 2004 make ground from the back ing partnership have four summate and Umshimi – and has consistently had a that only a small number of runners entered today includ- Wami), Shane Kennedy and strong presence in the classic. runners made any ground in ing Asavant who will contest Anna Furlong (Keep The It will be more of the same the run to the line with those the $300,000 New Zealand Conflict) and Danny Frye tomorrow when she starts in front slipping away as they Oaks. (Oxborough Magic). Capital Diamond and Lady rounded the final turn. A maiden winner at her Meanwhile, dual Guineas Platinum in the $300,000 Apprentice hoop Toni last start Asavant, has always winner Bangalore Bullet is in feature. Direen mastered the con- shown plenty of ability in her quarantine in Auckland Capital Diamond is one of ditions, winning three races short career but will have to awaiting his export to Hong the obvious chances in an yesterday including the Ash- produce something special Kong. intriguing contest and Lady burton Autumn Cup with today if she is to roll a star- Negotiations to buy the Platinum has a better chance local runner Dr Dee Bee. studded line up of fillies 3-year-old were completed last than her odds of $101 suggest. The Jan Hay-trained including former Canterbury week and he has left Shane It has been the norm for 5-year-old hadn’t been out of galloper Planet Rock. Kennedy’s Riccarton stable. Latta’s Oaks contenders to be the money in four starts on The best chance of the day Bangalore Bullet has raced 10 at lengthy odds. Wharite his home track before yester- for the Parsons team looks to times for three wins, two Princess was second favourite day and showed great tough- lie with Final Touch in the seconds, two thirds and a but still paid $9.50 and none of ness to hold out his opponents Cuddle Stakes. fifth. the stable’s other runners after leading for owners The After an impressive vic- He won the Gore Guineas have been at single-figures. Red Syndicate. tory last week at Wingatui, on January 21 and beat his Zennista was paying $43.20 Direen and Hay had the classy four-year-old mare age again in the Dunedin when the runner-up last year combined earlier in the day will prove a tough foil for her Guineas at Wingatui on and Can’t Keeper Down was for victory with Bowling Boy opposition today with Buddy February 4. at $14 when second, beaten by and the promising jockey also Lammas retaining the ride. Kennedy decided not to a long neck, in 2009, while displayed great judgment of Also included in the start Bangalore Bullet in the Lady Annaliese paid $5.70 for pace with Heaven Sent to win Parsons lineup today are Southland Guineas at Ascot a place when third in 2003. earlier in the day. Santos and Semper Plus, both Park a fortnight later. Latta has had only eight Oaks runners but the returns have been good, with a win, two seconds, a third and a fourth. More importantly, Capital Rogerson, Freedman unite Diamond looks to be her best Race rival: Planet Rock on his way to winning the One Thousand Guineas last year. Planet Rock beat Capital Diamond by three lengths over 2100m filly since Wharite Princess. at Hastings a fortnight ago. Photo: DEAN KOZANIC/FAIRFAX NZ The Lucky Unicorn filly, Aidan Rodley Freedman was in Auck- season, handing the reins to who runs in Patrick Hogan’s ‘‘She looks good and we are Smile, the dam of Capital it was his first ride in a a bit disappointing a couple of land this month to support his brother, Anthony. colours, has won only once very happy with her,’’ Latta Diamond, is a Zabeel mare Group I race for almost 10 times but her form improved Hamilton trainer Graeme Rogerson when he was ‘‘We were only saying yes- from nine attempts but has said. ‘‘She wasn’t comfortable and a sister to Australian years and he did not expect it once she got over ground. Rogerson is poised to join inducted into the New Zea- terday that between us we’ve returned a dividend in each of in the ground at Hastings.’’ Derby winner Don Eduardo. to be a regular occurrence. ‘‘She will definitely get the Australian great Lee Freed- land Racing Hall of Fame. trained about 9000 winners her five starts in group Capital Diamond drew Capital Diamond will be ‘‘There goes my chance to win distance and her work on man in a powerhouse partner- Rogerson, who will main- and 160-odd Group One win- company. wide in both the Eulogy ridden by Awapuni jockey a Group I,’’ he said ruefully Tuesday was every bit as good ship based in Sydney. tain his Hamilton base, is a ners,’’ Rogerson said. ‘‘We’ll She ran third in the Stakes and the Sir Tristram Jonathan Riddell who has after the race. as Capital Diamond’s. They News of the Rogerson- 12-time New Zealand premier- be quite a force. It will only be Group I One Thousand but will have the benefit of an long been convinced that the However, Riddell proved to worked together and both Freedman partnership domin- ship winner and the only New a boutique stable of about 35 Guineas and has taken on the inside draw tomorrow. ‘‘It filly was an Oaks candidate. be a better rider than he was a went well.’’ ated Australian racing head- Zealand trainer to have won horses. That’s what we are best since. She was beaten by should help,’’ Latta said. ‘‘She ‘‘I don’t think the distance prophet and has since won six Latta will have a dozen lines yesterday, with the Kiwi Australian racing’s big three, envisaging. I’d say it would be a nose by Quintessential in over-raced for quite a way in will be a problem,’’ Riddell Group I races and established runners at Trentham and is trainer confirming an alliance the Golden Slipper, Cox Plate a month off, but it might be the Desert Gold Stakes the Lowland but won’t have to said. himself as a top class flat represented in three of the was in the pipeline. It is an and Melbourne Cup. next week, or the week after.’’ (1600m) at Trentham and by a work hard to get cover this ‘‘She tries too hard not to rider. four black type races. unprecedented move for He has run stables in Rogerson will be at Tren- long head by Zurella in the Sir week.’’ get it. Lady Platinum, a Savabeel Douro Cup winner Australasian racing. Hamilton, Palmerston North, tham today to watch Joy’s Tristram Classic (2000m) at Te Latta also demonstrated ‘‘It’s a nice draw for her filly, took nine starts to win a L’Amour tackles the $70,000 ‘‘We’re going through the Sydney, Melbourne and Choice and Savasong contest Rapa. her faith in Capital Diamond and hopefully we will get a bit maiden but her two starts at a Group III Cuddle Stakes process right now. We’re in Dubai, and has raced horses the Group One $300,000 New She was three lengths by going to $180,000 to buy the of cover. She’s a free-going middle distance have pro- (1600m) and Galaxy Star will the process of making the successfully worldwide. Zealand Oaks. away when second to Planet half-brother, by Stravinsky, at type, with a high cruising duced a win and a fourth and attempt to make it four wins application,’’ Rogerson said. Freedman, an Australian ❏ It was also revealed yester- Rock in the Lowland Stakes Karaka in January. speed, but usually relaxes Latta does not see her as a in succession when he takes ‘‘We’ve been negotiating for a Hall of Fame trainer, has five day that Cambridge jockey (2100m) at Hastings a fort- Lucky Unicorn did not win when she gets cover.’’ forlorn hope tomorrow. on Eight Schillings and while. It’s not all approved Melbourne Cup wins to his Lisa Cropp had quit Mel- night ago, but was not helped past 1400m and is from a When Riddell rode Can’t ‘‘We were always looking Italian Princess in the $50,000 yet. Lee and I have been credit. However, he gave up bourne to take up a riding by a wet track. sprinting family but Diamond Keeper Down in the 2009 Oaks to get her to the Oaks. She was Lightning Stakes. Fairfax NZ friends for a long, long time.’’ training at the start of the contract in Turkey..