Wexford juvenile expected to give strong account
Wexford Stables will have a host of in-form chances in action at Ellerslie on Saturday and they also have high hopes for the youngest member of the team.
Trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are bullish about the prospects of the well-related Coniston (NZ) (Wootton Bassett) in The Lawn Shed Winter Series – 2YO Final (1200m).
By Wootton Bassett, he is the first foal of the stakes-winning Tavistock mare Le Gai Soleil (NZ), whose half-sister Danzdanzdance (NZ) won three times at Group One level in the Zabeel Classic (2000m), New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and Captain Cook Stakes (1600m).
Coniston has given every indication he has inherited an abundant share of the family ability for breeders Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, with the Blandford Lodge principals remaining in the ownership group.
“He’s a promising young horse and think he’s got a bright future,” Scott said.
“He worked well on Tuesday morning, he’s trialled well and has a good level of education. He’s drawn a little wide (11), but we still think he’ll be quickening home strongly.
“He’s well bred and we’ve left him a colt and we’re pretty confident that he will perform well on debut.”
Among the older brigade, last-start winner Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos) is a leading chance in The Lawn Shed Winter Series – Sprinters’ Final (1400m) in which the resuming Mosinvader (NZ) (Vadamos) is also expected to make his presence felt.
“Uderzo is very honest and consistent and once he finds form, he usually holds it for a good while,” Scott said.
“His last win was good, Warren (Kennedy, jockey) gets on well with him and he won’t run a bad race, he’s just one of those horses that shows up for you.”
Mosinvader hasn’t been seen since January but has a win and three runner-up finishes from seven first-up appearances.
“Generally, his first run is his best one and we purposefully haven’t trialled him, he’s done a lot of work at home and he had a jump-out 10 days ago,” Scott said. “One of his stronger performances would see him very competitive in this race.”
Ruby Rush (NZ) (Ribchester) has collected two wins from her last five outings and a most recent fourth on the course ahead of The Lawn Shed Winter Series Final – 3YO (1600m).
“She was down on the inside where they weren’t winning and her sectionals were still very good,” Scott said.
“It’s her first attempt at a mile and she’s got a good gate (five) to aid her to run it out, she worked well on Tuesday morning and is a very fit filly.”
She will be opposed by stablemate Whistler (NZ) (Proisir), who broke his maiden at Pukekohe before an unplaced run at Te Rapa.
“He just got left a little bit flat footed over the shorter trip last start so out to a mile will help him a lot, he’s a horse that we’ve always thought that once he got out to middle distances he will really hit his straps,” Scott said.
“The wider gate (14) might also be more of a help than a hindrance later in the day for him and we’re pretty confident the team should race well.”
They will also be represented by Kusuda Rush (Xtravagant) and Osipova (NZ) (Per Incanto) in the Living Turf Maiden (1200m) and The Darzi (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) in the extended Living Turf Maiden (1600m).
