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Home / Sport / Racing

Racing: Star mare weighted for victory

NZ Herald
8 Dec, 2016 04:00 PM5 mins to read

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Coldplay faces her acid test in the Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa tomorrow.

Coldplay faces her acid test in the Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa tomorrow.

It's remarkable how many times when summing up a race we ignore historical form at the expense of recent performances.

That's not to say Coldplay is not a worthy favourite for tomorrow's $100,000 Cal Isuzu Stakes at Te Rapa over last year's winner, the locally-trained Stolen Dance.

Coldplay earned her $3.40 Final Field posting with the TAB yesterday with her fresh-up win at Ellerslie followed by an even more stylish victory in open company on that same turf a couple of weeks ago.

Unquestionably her price standing over Stolen Dance ($4) is significantly influenced by the fact Coldplay has had those two fitness-inducing runs, whereas Stolen Dance has not raced since August 27, worthy of mention and that may well be the winning of the race.

BUT, there is a difference here - that is not the same as a topliner like Stolen Dance coming back from a winter break.

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She was eased only in training awaiting firm tracks after showing, during the Hastings spring treble, she was not at her best on any other type of surface.

Assisting Stolen Dance is an outing at the Te Teko barrier trials on November 22.

From three career fresh-up runs, Stolen Dance has scored a win and a close second, and that placing should have been a win when she was lucklessly beaten a nose at Ruakaka last spring.

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Also worth mentioning is that this race is at level weights. Even with her past two victories, Coldplay is rated at 89, 13 points behind Stolen Dance. If this was run under handicap conditions Stolen Dance would be conceding 3.5kg to 4kg to the favourite.

Also that last summer Kawi was the only horse that overall looked superior to Stolen Dance in weight-for-age racing and there was very little in that call.

Coldplay may well get the money via her superior raceday fitness, but if she does she's approaching a rating to be considered one of the three summer stars in waiting.

Stolen Dance's trainer David Green concedes the fitness equation, but adds: "That's not to say she can't get away with it."

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Stolen Dance has a 1600m record of nine starts for seven wins and two placings.

Don't miss this race it will be the highlight of a day of highlights.

No, you don't normally tip horses with just seven race starts behind them to win Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cups, but Lizzie L'Amour is a good deal better than mere normal.

We are going through a phase of emerging quality stayers as Chocante showed when he ran away with the Counties Cup - after sitting three deep throughout - at just his 10th appearance.

Chocante is a real star in the making and so is Lizzie L'Amour. She has yet to race beyond R75 grade, but her Tauranga win two back was remarkable for its ease and, remarkably, her effort to finish only 1.2 length from the winner at Ellerslie two weeks ago was almost better.

That she could finish that close in fifth place after being posted three wide, then six wide on the home bend, was stunning.

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She was entitled to drop right out, but the brilliant breeding - she is by Zabeel from a Sadler's Wells mare - kicked in.

That blood will go close to taking her name to the Waikato Cup trophy tomorrow.

She drew gate No 14 at Ellerslie, she comes out of barrier No 3 tomorrow and the 2400m will hold no fears for her.

Chenille has opened up the TAB favourite for the Cup. She was stylish in winning at Ellerslie two runs back then probably did not appreciate the rain-affected footing when 3.4 lengths behind Chocante in fifth in the Counties Cup. This race should suit her better.

Mark her, along with Megablast and Snow Secret among those emerging stayers.

Chenille, Megablast and Snow Secret were all in that beaten brigade behind Chocante, but at least some of that Counties unplaced form that day has a question mark over it. All three rate here.

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St Jean is the interesting runner. He won his maiden in Ireland over this 2400m trip and took another at 2400m when he got to Australia.

He has the 60kg to lump against some of the lightweight stayers, so his job will not be easy. But he has some ability.

Punting pointers

• Stay on side: Von Tunzelman (R4, Te Rapa). Lot to admire about his Te Rapa win last start and jumping up two grades should not be against him, especially dropping from 59.5kg to 54kg. No dinner for Leith Innes tonight.

• Beautifully bred: Legramore (R1, Te Rapa). Faces a strong line-up here, but showed glimpses of the class of her mum Katie Lee in winning on this track at just her second start last time out.

• Notice the light weight: Lizzie L'Amour (R7, Te Rapa). With just 53kg she can burst into prominence on the big stage. The weight will play a part in the final stages of 2400m.

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