Stakes Goals for Lonhro Colt

Media Release - Friday February 26

Robert Wellwood reckons he might have a star autumn two-year-old on his hands.

But the Cambridge trainer won't mind if talented Lonhro colt Western Springs can pick up a late summer feature on the way there.

Western Springs will tackle Saturday's Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) at Matamata. Photo: Grant Matthew (Race Images)

Western Springs will tackle Saturday's Gr.3 Waikato Stud Slipper (1200m) at Matamata at just his third start but he has already made a strong start to his career with a New Plymouth debut win and a fast-finishing sixth in last month's $1 million Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie.

"His Karaka Million run was extremely good," said Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James.

"He ran the fastest last 200m of the race and he was only going into that at his second start and we hadn't pushed him going in. It was a really good run against the best two-year-olds in the country.

"Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) was really happy with him through the middle stages and especially with the way he hit the line. He's more a three-year-old in the making but we're hoping to get to some of those races over 1400m and 1600m in the autumn.

"He might not be quite sharp enough to be winning this weekend over 1200m but as long as he's hitting the line like he did in the Karaka Million, we'll be happy."

While races such as the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on April 3 and the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie three weeks later look ideal for the Monovale Holdings-bred, Judy and Ron Wanless-raced colt, Western Springs would come right into contention on Saturday if the race was truly run, Wellwood said.

"A genuine tempo gives him his best chance. He's drawn nicely (in barrier five) but where he settles depends on how he jumps and we're wary that there are some pretty sharp, smart two-year-olds in there," Wellwood said.

TAB bookmakers have Western Springs as a $10 fourth favourite for the Slipper behind Karaka Million winner On The Bubbles at $2, Sword Of State at $2.80 and debutante Mana Nui at $8.50.

Advertisement

James and Wellwood will have four runners at Matamata on Saturday, with plenty of interest focussed on Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) winner Concert Hall, who tackles the Lisa Chittick Plate (1400m).

Concert Hall was sensationally late scratched from the Gr.3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) earlier this month after she dislodged rider Danielle Johnson at the gates and jumped the outside fence landing on her back. Fortunately she emerged with only superficial injuries.

"She had that incident at the gates at Taranaki which put her preparation on a completely different axis," Wellwood said.

"We've backed off her and have her in over 1400m on Saturday which will be a bit sharp for her, especially as it has come up a stronger field than we expected. But we just want her to have a positive experience at the races again and for her to do everything right and finish the race off nicely."

Wellwood ruled out backing up Concert Hall in Saturday week's Gr.1 $A1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington, suggesting the most likely alternatives were either the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on March 13 or the Gr.3 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill a week later.

"We'll take it one race at a time with her," he said.

The stable's other runners at Matamata are Sherrif in the Gr.3 Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Stakes (2000m) and Deep Beauty in the Rich Hill Stud 1400.

"Sherrif is well and his work is always good. He's been frustrating, just through a lack of early speed in his races. We've changed a few things with him, had him jumping logs, and hope that will spark him. He's capable of winning a race like this on his day." - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Magic Carpet Writes New Chapter for Family
Jenna McLeod got a massive thrill when watching the latest generation of her family’s breed score at stakes level at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.