Stuart sending unbeaten filly to Victoria
Unbeaten filly Sociable flies to Melbourne on Wednesday on a trip geared around Group 1 glory.
The last start Alexandra Park winner is trained and co-owned by Rangiora horseman Andrew Stuart, who has opted to bypass both premier nights in Auckland.
“She’s going for the Victorian Oaks (April 27),” said Stuart.
“She’ll race on Friday at Maryborough in a graduation series first.”
Sociable will be based with respected horseman John Caldow during her Victorian stay with Stuart committed to travelling back and forth between Christchurch and Melbourne over the next two months to oversee proceedings.
Sociable is the first foal of little-known sore Buy Kiwi Made, a Presidential Ball half-brother to former star mare Kiwi Ingenuity.
She debuted with an impressive win at Wyndham on February 4 and backed that up with a narrow victory at Alexandra Park on February 23.
In that race, she flew home from three back on the markers to reel in leader Bettor Step Aside, a subsequent impressive winner on premier night seven days’ later.
Chase Auckland draws wide in Derby
Pre-post favourite Chase Auckland will have to be the best horse in the race to win Friday night’s Group 1 $250,000 Woodlands Northern Derby at Alexandra Park.
He has drawn gate six in the 2700-metre feature for trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
Chase Auckland was excellent in running second to stablemate Sicario in the Derby prelude on Friday night, going under narrowly after sitting parked.
Crucially, likely second favourite Pat’s Delight has drawn worse – the outside of the mobile arm for Cran Dalgety.
Pat’s Delight missed the Derby prelude but was a winner on the track a week prior.
Purdon and Rasmussen had mixed in the draw for the other Group 1 on the night, the $100,000 Breckon Farms Youngs Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes for juvenile colts and geldings.
Their best chance, Jesse Duke, who galloped when mounting a run last Friday night, has also drawn six in the field of eight.
Stablemate The Moonshadow, fourth on debut last Friday night, has drawn barrier one.
The stable will be pleased with gates two and three drawn by Princess Tiffany and Bubbled Up in the Group 2 $80,000 Delightful Lady Classic for juvenile fillies.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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