Twain Chasing Family History

Media Release - Thursday August 21

Twain will be out to replicate the deeds of his dam when he heads to Te Rapa on Saturday to contest the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Twain will contest the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

His dam, Fleur de Lune, was runner-up in the race in 2011 for trainer Lee Somervell before going one better a year later, and trainer John Bell believes Twain can match that feat.

The five-year-old son of Per Incanto hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his career, winning six and placing in three of his 10 starts to date.

After posting two wins at the start of this preparation, Twain was runner-up over 1200m behind Midnight Scandal at Te Rapa earlier this month, and Bell said his gelding has felt the effects of the tough run.

“After his last start he was a little bit tired,” Bell said. “He had to go early, which was unfortunate. He was challenged on the outside and he is a very aggressive horse. Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) had to pick him up and carry him over that last stride.

“He felt it, but he has kicked back nicely.”

Colgan will once again be in the saddle on Saturday, where they will jump from barrier 11.

“He gets out of the gates and he will just sit there with a bit of cover, in the first three, four or five,” Bell said.

“He (Vinnie) rode him between races in a track gallop the week before and he was very happy with that, and he was upset that he had to go a bit early in the race at Te Rapa.

Advertisement

“He is a big race rider, he knows the horse now. The instructions will be – ‘go and do it’.”

Bell will head to Te Rapa with three other chances on Saturday, with Muscovado contesting the Ocean Park 2400, Manawa the Chittick Family Wishing Butcha All The Best 1500, and Cleese the Savabeel 2100.

“Muscovado was finishing over the top over 1800m at Taupo the other day, so we have done very little with him,” Bell said.

“We have got him in a 2400m and Jack (Taplin, apprentice jockey) said you will have pry me off the saddle with a crowbar. We are very happy with him.

“Cleese went a little bit wide at Te Rapa and finished fourth (last start), which was encouraging for an old boy.

“Manawa was right off the track and very wide the whole way (last start) and hit the front coming into the straight and then petered out. He was fit, but not match fit.

“I think the whole four will bring the heart rate up a little.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
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.
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.
Delacroix Brings Dubawi Outcross to Coolmore Roster
Blueblood 3YO Dubawi colt Delacroix has been retired and the dual Group I winner will stand at Coolmore in Ireland in 2026.
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.
2025 G1 Cox Plate Field and Barrier Draw
A field of nine has been finalised for the 2025 Cox Plate with favourite Via Sistina drawing gate seven for Chris Waller and James McDonald, while one three-year-old has accepted to run in Nepotism.
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.
NZB Ready to Run Breeze Ups Complete for 2025
The final day of NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale Breeze Ups saw a further 202 two-year-olds gallop down the home straight at Te Rapa Racecourse.