Coniston marches on towards Guineas
There has been plenty of hype surrounding Coniston (NZ) (Wootton Bassett), and the three-year-old son of Wootton Bassett delivered on his promise when winning the Waharoa Transport Co. (1995) Ltd 1400 at Matamata on Wednesday.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained colt impressed in his three trial wins before his debut at Te Rapa last month, where he was sent out a warm favourite, however, he raced greenly and finished seventh.
His supporters stayed true and backed him into a $1.40 favourite on Wednesday at his home meeting, and Coniston duly delivered.
He jumped well under jockey Michael McNab, who settled him in the one-one behind Imperialstatecrown (Proisir). Coniston peeled out three-wide when turning for home and quickly bounded to the lead before dashing away to score by two lengths over Vodka and Caviar (Russian Revolution), with a further 1-1/4 lengths back to Concurrence in third.
McNab has been aboard Coniston in his last four public outings, and he was pleased to see the colt deliver on raceday.
“Off his trials and his last run, I thought he should be winning, and he did,” McNab said. “He has got great ability and has plenty of upside because he is still learning.”
Andrew Scott was delighted to welcome Coniston back to the winner’s stall and said there is plenty of improvement to come from the colt as they work their way towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.
“He franked his work and his trials,” Scott said. “The team will be pleased with today to see his progress. He still has a lot to learn, he was still a bit raw in the race and is a bit keen, but once he calms down and gets it all together, we are hoping he can keep stepping up.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with today’s performance, and the beautiful ground out there won’t hurt him. Hopefully we can keep cracking on and get him to a nice three-year-old race.
“He is in the Guineas and all roads lead there at this stage, it is just which path we take. He is just going to take a little bit of practice to get to a higher level. Racing and practice makes perfect and it was a step in the right direction today.
“We work him twice a day, he swims in the afternoon. He is a robust horse that will handle a bit of racing over the next six weeks.
“Michael is getting on with him really well and he gave him a beautiful ride.”
Coniston is a $12 equal third favourite in the TAB’s futures market for the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, which is headed by Excite and System Of Play (Ole Kirk) at $8.
Bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, Coniston is part-owned by the Blandford Lodge principals and is out of their stakes-winning mare Le Gai Soleil (NZ), a half-sister to Group One winner Danzdanzdance.
