La Crique on Track for Next G1

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 10

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.

La Crique finished second in last Saturday's Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The daughter of Vadamos has been in a purple patch of form since winning last year’s Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki, winning two and finishing runner-up in five of her subsequent seven starts, much to the delight of her trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander.

“She is nothing but consistent and no one can bag her on that,” Katrina Alexander said. “A lot of horses will put in a good run and might struggle for the next few, but every time we have lined her up in her last five or six starts she has delivered.”

Alexander was pleased with La Crique’s efforts on Saturday and said she has come through the run well.

“It was a good effort considering the gap between runs and going straight into Group One level at 2000m technically fresh-up again. Especially against a horse like El Vencedor who is in a super patch of form and having had recent racing,” Alexander said.

“She got held up on the rail there too and she had to waste a bit of energy trying to get herself out as opposed to being able to go forward. With all that stacked up I thought it was a really good run. I was very proud of her effort.

Advertisement

“(She was) a little bit scratchy off the firm ground on the Sunday morning but come the afternoon she was very bright, and she is very bright in herself today (Monday). She has pulled up very well.”

La Crique has finished second in her last three outings, all at Group One level, and will bid to go one better when she heads to Ellerslie on Champions Day, March 8, to tackle the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).

“She goes through to the Bonecrusher and we won’t need to do a lot in-between,” Alexander said. “It will be a bit of a gap (between runs), but that is the way she is best, she is not a horse that can routinely go (racing every) two weeks.

“That will be our next main target and we will see where we go from there.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.
So You Think Filly Wins G2 Edward Manifold
Danny O’Brien believes he has the Group I VRC Oaks in his sights with So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling breaking her maiden in the best way possible with a last stride win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Inglis and Yulong Confirm Magic Time for Everest Slot
Inglis will partner with worldwide racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong for the running of the 2025 The Everest, with the combination to be represented by Magic Time in the $20m contest.
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.
La Crique Chasing Another G1
La Crique hasn’t returned to Trentham since she won the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) as a three-year-old, and three years down the track, the star mare will line up as a leading hope in Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m).
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).
Too Darn Hot’s Shiki Wins G3 Gimcrack Stakes
Winning her heat in good time at the official 2yo trials saw the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Too Darn Hot filly Shiki jump away the race favourite in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), a race she duly won with a fighting performance.
Mission Accomplished for La Crique
It’s a case of mission accomplished in Queensland for multiple Group One winner La Crique, who will now head for a spell in the warmer climes of the Sunshine State following her victory in last Saturday’s A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm.