Trans Tasman Options for La Crique

Media Release - Monday August 4

Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.

The seven-year-old daughter of Vadamos comfortably took out her 900m heat by 1-1/4 lengths, giving her connections plenty of confidence heading into the spring.

La Crique resumed impressively at the Taupo trials on Monday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

“I was really happy with her trial today, it was more of a day out for her,” Katrina Alexander said.

“She got to the lead fairly soon out of the gates and had gone along at a nice clip and won very comfortably, still on the bridle.

“She has shown a lot of freshness on her side and put in a very nice trial. I really couldn’t be any happier with her.”

The Alexanders have had their patience tested with their star mare, with feet issues curtailing a number of her preparations, and they reared their head again in autumn when prematurely ending her Australian campaign.

“That’s (feet issues) what put her out at the end of the season after we went to Sydney,” Alexander said. “But what happened in Australia was literally just a stone bruise.

“She went to the paddock in very good order, without being able to race over there.

“She has had a very good spell, we haven’t rushed her back in, and it has meant that she has been back in work a fraction earlier than we might have normally had her ready.

“She was showing all the signs at home that she wanted to have a day out, so we let that happen today and she seems to have enjoyed herself and let off a little bit of steam.”

Alexander said La Crique’s feet are in top order heading into the spring, and the mild winter has been favourable for their mare’s early preparation.

Advertisement

“Her feet are really good,” she said. “The (winter) season has probably been a little kinder on her. We have had wet periods, but I have been able to do alternative work with her and she is trucking along very nicely.

“Our problem has always been trying to prepare her through a wet end of winter and early spring.”

Australia has always been the main aim for La Crique this spring, however, her trainers haven’t ruled out remaining in New Zealand to tackle the spring carnival triple crown, which is set to take place at Ellerslie and Te Rapa this year.

“That (Australia) was our original thought,” Alexander said. “We have obviously opted to come here (Taupo trials) and will most likely stay here (New Zealand) for at least the first race of that series (Gr.1 Proisir Plate, 1400m), and we are just going to play it by ear.

“Physically she looks great, but I am mindful that she is a seven-year-old mare. We have been to Australia and struck a problem before, and we don’t want a repeat of that costly exercise.

“We want to go with a good, competitive article. That first race (Proisir Plate) is going to be at Ellerslie, which gives us a little more confidence to hang around.”

La Crique has just had two starts in Australia, running fourth in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington three years ago, and winning the A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm last year.

While plagued by feet issues throughout her career, La Crique has been able to amass an enviable record of nine wins and 13 places from 26 starts, and has earned nearly $2 million in prizemoney.

Her highlights have included victories in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m), while she has placed on eight occasions at at elite-level, including four consecutive runner-up results last summer. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Highland Blaze Wins $250,000 Grand National Hurdle
Jumps racing was the highlight at Sandown Lakeside on Sunday with the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle (4200m) the highlight and the $100,000 Crisp Steeplechase (4200m) offering a great start to the day.
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).
Inglis Digital Bargain Buys Deliver Kosciuszko Dreamers
Sunshine Law was not the only Inglis Digital success story to come out of the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with two contenders for this year’s $2million Kosciuszko also giving connections cause to dream big and one of them is an unbeaten mare with a Black Type pedigree.
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.
Victorian Breeders Celebrate Annual Awards Night
The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
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.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.