Group One-winning combination seeking further NZ Cup Week success
Hollie Elliot and Masa Hashizume kicked off New Zealand Cup Week on a high with victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), and they are hoping they can end it in similar fashion on Saturday.
Elliot is still on cloud nine following Angels Halo’s win, her first at elite-level in a solo capacity, and she said her star filly is now enjoying some downtime in the paddock alongside stablemate Miss Magnetica, who finished 10th.
“It was a bit of a shock,” Elliot said. “I thought Miss Magnetica would go pretty close and I did think Angels Halo was working just as well as her, but for her to shoot through there and put her head down and get on with the job was a massive thrill.
“We looked at her after the race and thought we could back her up, she pulled up so well, but she is back at home now in Cambridge with Miss Magnetica, and we will give them a good three weeks out. They both pulled up super and I am sure they are going to have a good year ahead.
“We will let the dust settle and talk with the owners. There are plenty of nice races for both of them. Neither of them are Karaka Millions eligible, so that rules that out, but there are plenty of other good races for them.”
Archaic Smile will be looking to continue the stable’s winning momentum at Riccarton on Saturday when she contests the Listed Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) first-up.
A southern campaign is nothing new to the five-year-old mare, who competed over New Zealand Cup Week last year, where she finished fifth in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and fourth in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m).
She returned to winning form in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at her last start at Trentham in March, and following a three-month spell, Elliot has decided to keep her to sprint distances this season and eyed the Stewards Stakes as an ideal first target.
“She has travelled down here great,” Elliot said. “She is a seasoned old girl now, so she knows her job and she is going really well.
“Last year I tried to stretch her out to the mile and she still went really good races, but she is probably not quite as competitive when we stretch her out a bit, so we thought this year we would keep her to sprint trips and keep her fresh and happy, and she is loving it.”
Archaic Smile placed in a Group and Listed trial over 1050m at Tauranga last month before having an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Labour Day, and Elliot is happy with her progression ahead of Saturday.
“She went better (in her trial) than I thought she would,” Elliot said. “She had a good three months in the paddock, so it has taken a little bit to get the weight off her and get her fitness back up. She was really good that day and had a really good blow.
“She had an exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Sarten Day, so I think we are as forward as we can be for Saturday.”
Elliot is looking forward to partnering with Hashizume once again, and she is hoping he can deliver another stakes triumph this weekend.
“Masa is riding fantastically and we have drawn two again, the same as Angels Halo, so hopefully he can produce a similar ride,” she said.
Archaic Smile will carry 53kg, 7kg less than race favourite Platinum Attack, but Elliot believes the Lisa Latta-trained gelding will still be very hard to beat.
“I was pretty stoked with that (53kg) because her rating has got up a little bit and I thought we might have a kilo more,” Elliot said. “Platinum Attack is going to be very hard to beat, but 53 brings us into it quite nicely.”
Platinum Attack is a $2.25 favourite with TAB bookmakers for the Stewards Stakes, with Archaic Smile rated an $8.50 winning hope.
