Almanzor Filly Gets Late Call Up into $3.5million The Kiwi

Media Release - Monday March 3

Just days out from the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing have been forced to find another contender following the withdrawal of Dealt With.

The son of Ace High looked to be among the race’s leading contenders, having won his first two starts before placing in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).

Zormella will contest Saturday’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood felt there was plenty of improvement left in the gelding, but he has been ruled out of the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race after he pulled up sore following track work on Saturday.

“He has galloped on Saturday and we haven’t completely gotten to the bottom of exactly what happened. At this stage we are thinking he has probably pulled a muscle high up in a hind limb,” Wellwood said.

“The vets are going to come for further diagnostics. We don’t think it is going to be a major long-term, but it is something that means we are unable to get to the race.”

Wellwood said it is disappointing for all concerned, but the welfare of the horse comes first.

“It is absolutely gut-wrenching,” he said. “It is such a high-profile race, and we were so excited to have him in there for the ownership group and ourselves.

“His form looked to put him right there with a winning chance.

“It’s hard to take, but the reality of it is that the horse comes first.”

A silver lining for the Cambridge barn is that the slot holders have elected to replace Dealt With with stablemate Zormella, who had previously just missed out on securing another slot in the race.

Advertisement

The daughter of Almanzor, who is raced by RNZ Frac Club 1 and Surf Coast Racing, has had just two starts to date, breaking through for her maiden win in impressive fashion over 1400m at Pukekohe last month.

“Fortunately, we had a filly (Zormella) we had just missed out on another slot with,” Wellwood said.

“She looks high quality and we are very lucky that the slot holders have chosen us. There were a number of options they were going through and have clearly decided that filly fits the bill.

“It is bittersweet to have another one in there.”

While the slot holders share Wellwood’s disappointment in losing the services of Dealt With for the NZB Kiwi, they believe they have found a suitable replacement in Zormella.

“It is sad news (withdrawal of Dealt With). I feel for the trainers and owners,” slot holder representative Shaun Clotworthy said. “The horse looked like he had a lot of potential and looked like a real chance in the NZB Kiwi.

“Roger and Robert have been happy with her (Zormella) and she won nicely the other day. She looks like a progressive horse, with a nice action, and being an Almanzor we hold no fears getting up to the 1500m.

“We have relied a lot on Roger and Robert’s opinion of her, and they have quite a high opinion of her. She lacks a bit of ringcraft with only have a couple of starts, but we think she has got potential, and Roger thinks she has potential.

“We had to make a decision pretty quickly. It’s a bit frustrating, but that is horse racing, and we all know what it’s like with horses, they can be sound one day and unsound the next.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Deep Field's Depth Of Character Takes The Queensland Guineas
Deep Field three-year-old Depth Of Character has opened the path to a potential Group I Stradbroke Handicap tilt after winning the Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
First Stakes Winner for Cool Aza Beel
Newhaven Park’s Cool Aza Beel produced his first stakes winner when two-year-old colt Cool Archie won the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Winx Half-Sister Wins G3 Hawkesbury Crown
The Winx family has been on fire this autumn producing a flurry of new stakes-winners led by Group I winner Gringotts and Group II winners Enriched and Vegas Queen with a fourth emerging on Saturday when blue-blood mare City of Lights captured the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Crown (1300m).
Femminile gives Dundeel first female G1 winner with Derby victory
Supersire Dundeel has his second G1 South Australian Derby winner and his first female G1 winner after his courageous daughter Femminile was too good for the boys at Morphettville this afternoon in the time honoured 2500m Classic.
So You Think He’s Tough- Punch Lane Wins G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup
Backing up for a third Saturday in a row, super fit So You Think gelding Punch Lane booked his place in the $3million Big Dance later this year when leading all the way to win the $250,000 Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on Saturday.
$1.1million Fastnet Filly a New SW for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock
Tara Talks Racing podcast listeners would have taken notice of the Listed SAJC Adelaide Guineas (1600m) at Morphettville on Saturday featuring $1.1million Fastnet Rock filly On Display.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 3
Here is the full list of 113 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pride of Jenni Not for Catching at Caulfield
Caulfield has been a happy hunting ground for Pride Of Jenni in recent weeks, and the reigning Australian Horse of the Year produced another spectacular front-running performance at that venue in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Tile Importer Anniversary Vase (1600m).
Unbeaten Aerodrome - Can Gilgai Breed and Sell 3 SW 2YOs This Season?
Gilgai Farm have bred two of Australia’s best two-year-olds this season and promising Ole Kirk youngster Aerodrome looks likely to be given a chance to be their third season stakes winner after making it two wins from two starts at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Libertad Back To Winning Form in G2 Victory Stakes
It had been a while between drinks but Russian Revolution stallion Libertad found his way back to winning form in the Group II Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.