La Crique Wins G1 Otaki Maori

Media Release - Saturday February 24

Katrina and Simon Alexander celebrated one of their most satisfying moments on a racetrack with La Crique’s triumphant turnaround in the Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) on Saturday.

Talented mare La Crique dashes to a second Group One victory in the Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The undisputed star of the Alexanders’ Te Awamutu stable, La Crique had endured a turbulent 12 months since her runner-up finish behind Levante in the same race in February of last year.

But the efforts and patience of everyone connected with the Vadamos mare was richly rewarded as she bounded away from a star-studded weight-for-age field at Otaki.

“It’s the first time I’ve had the shakes for a while,” Katrina Alexander said. “I don’t think anyone other than the team at home will understand what’s gone into getting her here today.

“Inch by inch, we’ve improved her, tried to get her back on track and tried to get her back to the horse that we knew as a three-year-old.

“I was pretty happy with her during the week. I ride her in all of her trackwork, and I really felt that we were getting her personality back. So this is hugely satisfying and we couldn’t be happier.”

There has never been any doubt around La Crique’s quality. She burst on the scene as a three-year-old with five wins from eight starts, including the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). She placed in all of her other three, headed by an unlucky second in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) behind another of this summer’s comeback horses, Asterix.

La Crique became a Group One winner with a dazzling Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) performance at Matamata in the spring of her four-year-old season, but she had gone winless in seven starts through the 16 months since.

“She just had one of those annoying blowouts that happened as soon as she came into the stable at the beginning of her last preparation,” Alexander explained. “Unfortunately it blew out of the coronet, and the hole that came out split horizontally around the coronet.

“So every time the hoof grew down, the gap got wider. She obviously had a lot of discomfort in her movement and it was really bothering her.

“It’s been frustrating, and mostly for the horse. She’s put up with a lot. She’s very tough and she’s tried to battle her way through it. Even here last year, it was bothering her and she hung in slightly in the straight. I just hate doing that to a horse.

“She’s been brave, she’s got here, and she’s just matured so much as well. We’re absolutely thrilled.

Advertisement

“It’s so good for Matt (Cameron) as well. This was his first sit on the horse and he produced a beautiful ride.”

Cameron settled La Crique in fifth along the inside, keeping a close watch on the $2.30 favourite Desert Lightning, who was in an early speed duel before easing back to take a trail behind Belclare.

The field moved away from the rail in search of better ground coming towards the home turn, and Cameron cut the corner and went for gold. She scythed through and burst to the lead at the top of the straight, kicking hard and taking command.

Aegon chased hard and ate into the margin late in the piece, with Desert Lightning sticking on bravely in third, but La Crique triumphed by a length and a quarter.

“I’d never sat on her before, but she makes my job easy,” Cameron said. “My job was to follow the favourite, and she just tracked along beautifully. She’s so athletic and she’s a little machine. She felt super.

“She was lovely and quiet and stepped out of the gates well. There was a bit of hustle-bustle in front, and I was fine just doing my thing behind her. She was great.

“Jockeys always have a hard choice, either coming here for this race where there isn’t as much on the undercard, or going to Matamata where there’s a lot of good races. I was happy to pick up the ride on this mare today and it was definitely worth the trip.”

Bred and raced by John and Jan Cassin, La Crique has had 18 starts for seven wins, seven placings and $956,777 in stakes.

Alexander hinted that La Crique might be in line for a return to Australia, where her one previous appearance produced a fourth placing in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

“A lot depended on today and how she finished this race off, not necessarily the placing,” Alexander said. “We haven’t looked too far ahead, so we’ll go home and make some plans.

“I think we know now that she’s an autumn horse. The spring just doesn’t suit her.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - Trackside Otaki-Maori Classic Gr1 1600m

Otaki Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:35.01
1
La Crique
- 5m Vadamos (FR) x Destiny Cove (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: M Cameron 57
2
1.3
Aegon
- 6g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Toss Up (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: K Asano 59
3
3.1
Desert Lightning
- 4g Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Isstoora (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: P & D Williams Rdr: V A Colgan 59
Pride Of Dubai
4
3.9
El Vencedor
- 5g Shocking (AUS) x Strictly Maternal (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: Joe Doyle 59
5
4.7
Ladies Man
- 6g Zed (NZ) x Just Polite (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: K R Hercock 59
6
8.7
Callsign Mav
- 7g Atlante (AUS) x Raadisi (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: J G Bary Rdr: J K Riddell 59
7
8.8
Lady Telena
- 6m Vespa (NZ) x Langara (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Kenny Moore Rdr: U A Holmquist 57
8
8.9
Belclare
- 6m Per Incanto (USA) x Miss Rhythmic (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: L Sutherland 57
9
9.9
Puntura
- 6g Vespa (NZ) x Mumzahoney (NZ) (Magic Of Sydney (AUS))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: C J Grylls 59
10
10.3
Chase
- 7g Zed (NZ) x Dantessa (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: S Nickalls Rdr: S J O'Malley 59
More Reading...
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
$3million Won Through Inglis Xtra Bonus
A staggering $3m has now been won as part of the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series following today’s victory by the Cody Morgan-trained 3YO Considered at Dubbo.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 29
Here is the full list of 53 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
La Crique Chasing Boxing Day G1
Dual Group One winner La Crique will bid to add another elite level scalp to her record when she heads to Ellerslie on Boxing Day to tackle the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m).
La Crique on Track for Next G1
Dual Group One winner La Crique continued her consistent run of form when finishing runner-up to El Vencedor in Saturday’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, and she will now be set for another elite-level 2000m test.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Big Pedigrees Don’t Always Spell Black Type
The breeding of thoroughbreds is a very inexact science which is why we saw siblings to a pair of Group I winners fighting out the finish of a very pedestrian 1100m maiden at Ballarat on Sunday.