Quality Mare Chasing G1

Media Release - Monday August 18

War Decree’s daughter Val Di Zoldo will be given opportunities this preparation to lock in the only missing credit on her CV.

The six-year-old is the dual Group Two winner of the Travis Stakes (2000m) and Lowland Stakes (2100m) and also has a victory in the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m) on her record.

Elite-level targets are in the crosshairs for Val Di Zoldo.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Trainer Tony Pike’s aim now is a strike at the highest level with the closing two legs of the Triple Crown series seen as Val Di Zoldo’s best spring options.

“She’s coming up really well, but the first one (Gr.1 Proisir Plate, 1400m) isn’t ideal for her fresh-up,” he said.

“She’s more of a mile and 2000m horse so we’ll look at alternatives for her first-up run, but at the same time keep it in the back of our minds.”

Val Di Zoldo’s main targets will be the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

“Hopefully, she can improve a length or so off last season and probably needs everything to go 100 percent right in weight-for-age company at Group One level, but she seems to have come back better than ever,” Pike said.

Val Di Zoldo furthered her preparation on Saturday when runner-up in an 1100m trial at Taupo while stablemate Churchillian finished fourth in her heat.

“Unfortunately, she injured a ligament last season, so she was off the scene for a long time, but she has come back in great order,” Pike said.

The Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) during Cup week is a possible target for the mare, whose seven wins include the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m).

Advertisement

Hello Youmzain fillies Lucy In The Sky, Cream Tart and Slipper Island also have the Riccarton festival on their programs.

“Lucy In The Sky will have a quiet trial at Te Awamutu and both her and Cream Tart are likely to head to the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) on September 6 at Ellerslie and we’ll definitely be looking at the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) with them,” Pike said.

Lucy In The Sky has won two of her three starts, including the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) while Cream Tart was a close second on debut before spacing her rivals at her only other start at Te Aroha.

“We’ll look to give Slipper Island a couple of runs before the Stewards (Listed, 1200m), the straight six at Riccarton is very similar to Trentham,” Pike said.

He ended his last campaign with four consecutive wins at Trentham and the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) a possible longer-term aim.

Pike has a promising team of younger horses for the spring, among them the Snitzel three-year-old Storm Front who was an impressive debut winner at two and then suffered cardiac arrhythmia when unplaced in the Listed Star Way Staes (1200m).

“He’s a lovely horse and had a jump-out last week and will probably go to the Te Awamutu trials on August 26 and then we’ll decide if he runs in the Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed, 1200m) at Ellerslie,” he said.

Meanwhile, last season’s Sir Colin Meads winner Poetic Champion will be off the scene for some time.

“He’s in the paddock, unfortunately he’s always had very bad knees, so he’s had surgery and unlikely to be seen back until the autumn,” Pike said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
TBA Mourn Passing of So You Think
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse join the wider industry in mourning the passing of So You Think, one of the modern greats of the Australian turf and a truly elite sire.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Digital - Darby Swoop on Amazing Eagle for $310,000
Scott Darby believes today’s Inglis Digital sale-topper Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) can continue along the same successful mould as the likes of former online Darby acquisitions Robusto, Caballus and Imperial Force and progress on to become a future racetrack star.
Pier Headed to Melbourne
Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier to test his talent in Melbourne.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.