Orchestral Primed for Sydney Assault

Media Release - Thursday March 21

Glamour filly Orchestral will defend an elite level title won by a former star stablemate when she makes her Australian debut later this month.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-prepared three-year-old will take aim at the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), claimed last year by the now retired Prowess, at Rosehill on Saturday week.

Orchestral will head to Sydney later this month to tackle the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).   Photo: Race Images

The Cambridge trainers will also be represented in Melbourne on the same day by promising young stayer Mark Twain.

Orchestral will be reunited with James McDonald, who guided her to victory in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO  (1600m), and the daughter of Savabeel was subsequently equally dominant in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

“She had her first serious piece of work this (Thursday) morning and was really good and pulled up nicely,” Wellwood said.

“She went to the water treadmill for a week after the Derby and she’s been back in work cantering. She has done very well and looks very good.”

Orchestral will make two appearances in Sydney with the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick a fortnight after the Vinery the favoured second challenge.

“At this stage, it will be the Oaks, but we have left the door open with nominations for the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.1, 2000m). The most likely path is the Vinery to the Oaks,” Wellwood said.

Meanwhile, Michael Dee has been booked to ride the last-start Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) placegetter Mark Twain at Flemington on March 30.

“He will run in the Roy Higgins (Listed, 2600m), which is a Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) qualifier,” Wellwood said.

Advertisement

The four-year-old son of Shocking is a three-time winner and will make his second appearance in Australia. He finished midfield in last season’s Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) off the back of his fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

“He has still got a lot to learn and it was only his 11th start the other day and first time over two miles in the Cup,” Wellwood said.

“He was strong the whole way and when they put the speed on, he was a bit lost as to what to do.

“When he finally figured it out the race had panned out and he ran into a bit of bad luck before he flashed home.

“He’s a good galloper and not may horses can cut out the sectionals he can at the end of a distance race.”

The stable will have limited representation on the domestic front in the coming days, but there will be interest in the debut performance of Northeasterly in the Peninsular Beachfront Resort Mooloolaba (1400m) at New Plymouth on Friday.

To be ridden by Masa Hashizume, the half-brother by The Autumn Sun to former New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu was purchased out of Landsdowne Park’s draft at Karaka for $900,000.

“He’s taken a bit of time and has showed good ability at the trials and at home,” Wellwood said.

“He’s probably a horse that we would have liked to see at a mile, but we haven’t been able to get a trial into him this time in. He will be better with more time and going further.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Orchestral Back This Saturday
Saturday will mark the return of racing to Ellerslie Racecourse and last season’s New Zealand Champion Three-Year-Old Orchestral.
Orchestral to Run in G1 Toorak
New Zealand’s darling of the turf Orchestral is set to cross the Tasman this week to tackle the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
So You Think Cognito Back in Form
Group Two winner Cognito snapped a 22-month win drought in emphatic style in Saturday’s $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Open (1580m) at Riccarton.
Green Letter Day For Yulong As Treasurethe Moment Wins Memsie Stakes
With four individual Group victories on Saturday in the Yulong silks, no one could deny that Treasurethe Moment’s $750,000 Group 1 MRC Memsie Stakes (1400m) winning performance outshone those of Grand Prairie, Tycoon Star and Magic Time earlier in the day.
Grand Prairie Wins G3 Up and Coming for Yulong
The Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday was aptly named with a classy field of promising colts chasing a first Black Type win and it was Yulong blueblood colt Grand Prairie that took the win in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Hellbent Mare Cracks $3million with G3 Cockram Victory
When Grahame Begg has talented mare Magic Time ready to fire first up she rarely misses and the six year-old daughter of Hellbent produced her A game at Caulfield on Saturday to win the Group III MRC Cockram Stakes (1200m) as favourite.
Manikato Target For Tropicus
One of two stakes winners on the day for Darley’s Too Darn Hot at Caulfield, the impressive Group 3 MRC Heath 1100 (1100m) victory of Kia Ora’s Tropicus has connections set to target the stallion prospect at Group 1 races.
G1 Bonecrusher Next for Orchestral
Ellerslie has been the home of several of Orchestral’s career highlights, and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are hoping she can add another on Saturday when she contests the $1 million Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
So You Think Summer Star a Spring Contender
So You Think gelding Revelare was the find of the summer down in Melbourne racking up five successive wins between December and the start of March with the untapped 5YO putting up his hand as a spring contender when saluting at Caulfield on Saturday.
Coolmore Stud Stakes On The Cards For Tycoon Star
A shot at the stallion-making Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) looks to be on the agenda after smart Written Tycoon colt Tycoon Star recorded his second Group 3 victory, winning the MRC McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Caulfield for Yulong.