Lupo Solitario takes traditional Ellerslie feature

Talented performer Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) is making every post a winner since his return from a stint in Hong Kong and captured the traditional Ellerslie feature, the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m), in a nail-biting finish on Saturday.

The five-year-old son of Satono Aladdin had seven starts in the competitive Hong Kong racing jurisdiction, but a race fall knocked his confidence and the decision was taken to send him back to his former mentor, Danica Guy.

Before his overseas venture the gelding had won three of his six starts for Guy, including the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) over Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel).

Showing good improvement in his first three starts back, which included a win over 1600m at Pukekohe leading into Saturday’s feature, Lupo Solitario was well respected in an even market, starting a $9.50 Fixed odds chance in a market headed up by race favourite December (NZ) (Shamexpress) ($4.60)

Rider Wiremu Pinn had him beautifully settled in third all the way and made his move around the home bend where he shot to the lead at the 250m.

Lupo Solitario looked all over the winner at that point but another emerging talent in Top Shelf (NZ) (Savabeel) began to sprout wings and failed by just a head to haul in the eventual winner, who held her out to complete his fifth career victory.

Guy was all smiles as she greeted her charge in the Ellerslie birdcage.

“That was wonderful as I really didn’t think he could do it today as I thought the track might be too wet for him,” Guy said.

“I said to Bill (Pinn) we have to go to Plan B and go forward and he is such an honest, tough horse.

“I’m so grateful to get him back here as we all love him.

“He is just wonderful to have in the stable and I have to thank a lot of people for getting him back to where he is.

“I think that might be it for him this season and we can bring him back for Hawke’s Bay in the Spring.”

Pinn, who was having his first ride on the horse, was nothing but complimentary about the effort and the manners of his mount.

“He was really good and quite a gentleman,” he said.

“He is a horse that usually likes to get back and run home but we wanted to be a bit more positive and it paid off.

“He is still very green and toyed with them a bit late, but I felt there was still a lot there if I needed it.

“This was the first time with the blinkers on and he was out of his comfort zone so fair play to him and I think he can get over even more ground in the future.”

Now raced by Guy alongside her mother Gayle and Glen Guy, Lupo Solitario has earned over $302,000 in his career to date. - Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Gold medal for James and Wellwood Filly at Ellerslie

Promising three-year-old filly Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel) stepped from a maiden victory at Ellerslie over 1600m at her last start to Group Three glory at the venue on Saturday when she claimed the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-prepared daughter of Waikato Stud super sire Savabeel dominated the betting markets to start a $2.60 Fixed Odds favourite, such was the strength of her maiden performance.

Given a perfect trip in midfield by rider George Rooke, Solid Gold looked an ominous presence as she swooped into contention on the home bend and rounded up pacemakers Fantastic Ideas (NZ) (Puccini) and King Jakkal (NZ) (King Of Comedy) shortly after straightening.

Last start winner La Diem (Wootton Bassett) quickly joined and headed her but Rooke was slowly winding the favourite up and she put her head down and fought back at the 200m.

The pair were locked together as they approached the finish line with Solid Gold thrusting her neck in front to take the win from La Diem and her stablemate Glance (NZ) (Savabeel) who fought well for third after having every chance in the run home.

Wellwood was delighted with her performance and the way in which the filly made good use of a handy barrier draw.

“She hasn’t had a lot of luck with gates and the like so it was nice to finally see her draw well (3) and especially for her first time over ground,” Wellwood said.

“It all went her way although I’m picking George will come back and say she wasn’t a big fan of the track.

“She can be a bit more electric when the ground is firmer but it is great to get the win and some black type for her.

“She is a good horse, simple as that and she has put a couple together so we will now have a chat with Mark and Pip (Chittick) and make a bit of a plan (for her).

“Brisbane is still an option but we won’t make any decisions until we have had a chat with her connections.”

Rooke was confident his mount would be tough to beat and also believes she will be even better over more ground.

“We had a good draw and we were always going to hold our position early,” he said. “We had a couple come around which kept it (the pace) honest but I would have liked it to be a bit more solid.

“She felt like a big baby first time over that trip but she was big and strong at the turn and tough in the finish.

“I think she will stay over further as she relaxes so well.”

Raced by her breeders Waikato Stud, Solid Gold is out of the O’Reilly mare Gram (NZ) and is the younger sister of multiple Australian stakes winner Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) who numbers the 2024 Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m) amongst his six career wins. - Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Asterix lands JRA Plate

Smart stayer Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) resumed as a strong winner of the Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) for trainer Chris Waller at Randwick on Saturday.

The seven-year-old son of Tavistock enjoyed a good preparation last campaign and had been trialling well in the lead-up to Saturday’s victory.

Punters backed the former Kiwi from $31 into $15 and the gelding showed a ready turn of foot when finding clear air under Collett, tracking runner-up You Wahng (So You Think) throughout, with well-fancied stablemate Travolta (Lope De Vega) finishing third.

Kiwi mare She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) enjoyed a nice run outside the leader but knocked up late to finish a solid fifth.

“That played out really well for me,” Collett said. “His trials were really good coming into it, he had some freshness in his legs.

“Starting off over 2000m may have been a question mark, but Chris said ‘be kind to him’ and we got a very kind run. Off a moderate tempo, we only had to get out late and sprint and he did that.

“I was pretty happy with that win, I think he’ll be in for a pretty good winter campaign.”

Queensland is now likely on the agenda for the former New Zealand Derby winner who will head to the Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on May 9.

“It's just taken a while to find his legs in Australia, but he's certainly racing honestly now. That was a good win,” Waller said.

“That’s exactly what we wanted to see and I think there’s a Gosford Cup in about three weeks. We’ll have a look at that first, it’s good prize money here in Sydney and then probably up to Queensland.”

Asterix was bred by Sir Owen Glenn's Go Bloodstock and is by Tavistock out of the Shirocco mare Mourasana.

Curraghmore offered Asterix at the 2020 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where Bruce Perry Bloodstock bought him for $450,000.

Asterix began his career in the Matamata stable of Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott, for whom he won four of his 14 starts including the 2022 New Zealand Derby and the 2024 edition of the Gr.2 Avondale Cup (2400m).

Asterix has now had a total of 25 starts for six wins, two placings and A$1,101,546 in stakes. – NZ Racing Desk

Familiar partnership go back-to-back in Star Way Stakes

Trainer Stephen Marsh and syndicator Go Racing made it back-to-back wins in the Listed SkyCity Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday when Miss Janet (Home Affairs) took out the juvenile feature. The partnership won last year’s edition with Little Black Dress (Snitzel) and they went into this

NZ Racing NewsJoshua Smith

Unique Ambition breaks through at Randwick

Five-year-old Tavistock mare Unique Ambition (NZ) (Tavistock) returned to winning form with a determined performance in the Midway Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick, delivering a timely result for trainer John Sargent and jockey Nash Rawiller. The New Zealand-bred mare, who had been knocking on the door in recent runs, produced

NZ Racing NewsNZ Racing Desk

Charmrose proves too quick at Ellerslie

Speedy mare Charmrose (NZ) (Charm Spirit) proved too slick for her open class rivals when she led from pillar to post in the Elsdon Park 1200 at Ellerslie. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Charm Spirit has a real penchant for freewheeling out in front in her races

NZ Racing NewsKevin Robertson

Rochello leading local charge for McKay

Invercargill mare Rochello (NZ) (Highly Recommended) has found her groove in her last few starts and trainer Sally McKay is hoping that can continue at her home track on Sunday. The six-year-old mare has won two of her last three starts, including her last start over 1400m at Riverton on

NZ Racing NewsJoshua Smith