Ellerslie Results (Race 6)

Saturday, 10th March 2018

6
15:35
(local)

Sistema Stakes (G1)

Age: 2yo Type: OPEN
NZD $200,000
1200m TURF GOOD
6
15:35
(local)
NZD $200,000
1200m GOOD

Sistema Stakes (G1)

Age: 2yo Type: OPEN

The G1 2yo over 1200m promised to solve the pecking order of the juveniles and probably did with only the award for youngster of the year still a toss up. The gelding Sword Of Osman is the top 2yo now after dominating these and ran good time plus when leading he is undefeated, so a game plan is very simple with this fella. He drew the ace today and had to be kicked up early to hold the inside line but after 200m was in full flowing stride and highballing it. Once he came back underneath his rider across the top a secondary surge was asked of turning for home and the response was immense at the 300m. Sword Of Osman has cut his opposition to shreds in all three times he has led up and today he won by only a length and a quarter but had heaps on these in reality. It was his third win from four starts and he now has a G1 to go with a G3 the start before. He ran 1:09.79 and that was only the third best time of four races run today at 1200m but for juveniles that is a big tick in comparison to the older horses. Sword Of Osman was a length and a half only slower than the best time of the day. Avantage the stablemate filly and unbeaten until today ran home strongly the inside from last for a good second and an awkward draw mattered the Australian bred filly. She lost no admirers but it is worth pointing out this was the fastest 1200m she has run in after wins prior to today in 1:11.38 then 1:10.54 (this came on the same track as today significantly). Spanish Whisper was a rugged third and she is very tough and durable this also Australian bred filly, after a tough win prior at G2. There is not a lot between her and Avantage so far this season when they have clashed but she is yet to beat home her now arch rival. Bocce sat second the outer and wilted a tad for fourth but once again this was the fastest 1200m this Australian bred colt has ever run in so not disgraced. The Real Beel, the stablemate of the first two home, raced third or fourth and wilted the run home to finish fifth beaten four and a half lengths. Melt was the big flop in the race and the favourite was last away after an awkward start and then never looked to be travelling sixth the inside across the top. Even when angled out she did not uncork that ping she had shown when undefeated prior and while her connections like many failures on the day blamed the firmer footing that looked too convenient. Melt was not in gameday mode and this is evidenced by prior she won here in 1:09.31 at G3 on as firmer footing, so she ran that day over two lengths faster than the winner today. She was beaten four and three-quarter lengths today so has lost a dramatic amount of ground and has she gone backwards after the break. If she is to continue onto the other G1 juvenile race left that is over 1400m and left-handed, then will be having a first try at that direction and over a longer trip, so it does not get any easier. Melt on her flop today went from the top of the juvenile tree prior and dropped down the branches to fourth or likely even lower so it was an epic fall from grace. The rest in this race were outclassed and would be better back to maiden class to get a win, which Tavisan and Not Usual Current both can. Sword Of Osman in front and given a breather could win by more at 1400m and Avantage is out of a Zabeel dam so the extra trip will be ideal. Spanish Whisper is so tough that she will relish the 1400m too, so Melt now has to try and restore her reputation by going up in trip and first time left-handed at G1. Rain could be a great leveler but Sword Of Osman is the sharpest tool in juvenile shed right now by a significant margin.

Previous Winners

Date Horse Jockey WT Trainer BP
SUMMER PASSAGE (AUS) 2C
SNITZEL (AUS) - SUBSEQUENT (AUS) ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)
B SHINN 56.5 LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT 10
HEROIC VALOUR (AUS) 2C
FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - MYRRH (NZ) NASSIPOUR (USA)
J K RIDDELL 56.5 STEPHEN AUTRIDGE 9
DAL CIELO (NZ) 2G
PER INCANTO (USA) - CENT FROM HEAVEN (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS)
O P BOSSON 56.5 MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN 5
VESPA (NZ) 2C
ELUSIVE CITY (USA) - MISS AVALON (IRE) FANTASTIC LIGHT (USA)
MARK DU PLESSIS 56.5 JOHNO BENNER 8
RUUD AWAKENING (AUS) 2F
BERNARDINI (USA) - DAWN ALMIGHTY (AUS) DANEHILL (USA)
O P BOSSON 54.5 STEPHEN MARSH 1
TOUGHER THAN EVER (NZ) 2C
GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS) - RATHLIN ISLAND (AUS) GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (USA)
O P BOSSON 56.5 JASON BRIDGMAN 4
ANABANDANA (AUS) 2F
ANABAA (USA) - GREAT NOTICE (USA) NUREYEV (USA)
O P BOSSON 54.5 D SELLWOOD 5
BANCHEE (NZ) 2F
ORATORIO (IRE) - MISS JESSIE JAY (NZ) SPECTACULARPHANTOM (USA)
L G INNES 54.5 J G SARGENT 1
KAAPTAN (NZ) 2G
KAAPSTAD (NZ) - FANNY BLACK (NZ) CHEM (USA)
C J GRYLLS 56.0 STEPHEN MCKEE 3
FULLY FLEDGED (NZ) 2C
ALIGN (AUS) - FLEDGED (AUS) BLUEBIRD (USA)
L G INNES 56.0 M BAKER 3
ALAMOSA (NZ) 2C
O'REILLY (NZ) - LODORE MYSTIC (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS)
G MCKEON 56.0 PETER MCKAY 1
JOKERS WILD (NZ) 2C
BLACK MINNALOUSHE (USA) - MISS RORY (AUS) RORY'S JESTER (AUS)
M T COLEMAN 56.0 M MORONEY & A SCOTT 2
MI JUBILEE (NZ) 2F
HOWBADDOUWANTIT (USA) - MI STEEL (NZ) MI PREFERIDO (USA)
DAVID WALKER 54.0 STEPHEN CRUTCHLEY 2
IFLOOXCOULDKILL (NZ) 2F
DAGGERS DRAWN (USA) - HEAR'S HOPING (NZ) DALMISTER (USA)
L G INNES 54.0 P O'SULLIVAN 7
MAROOFITY (NZ) 2G
MAROOF (USA) - HOWKUDAI (NZ) DON'T FORGET ME (IRE)
L A O'SULLIVAN 55.5 MARK WALKER 4
GROUT (NZ) 2G
GOLD BROSE (AUS) - KAAPSTAD GLAMOUR (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ)
M J WALKER 55.5 A SHARROCK 10
KAPISTON (AUS) 2F
LAKE CONISTON (IRE) - KAPETOILE (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ)
M T COLEMAN 54.5 M MORONEY & A SCOTT 6
WINGED FOOT (NZ) 2G
MAROOF (USA) - RICAMO (NZ) KAAPSTAD (NZ)
G J GRYLLS 55.5 ROBERT PRISCOTT 1