It’s a case of mission accomplished in Queensland for multiple Group One winner La Crique, who will now head for a spell in the warmer climes of the Sunshine State following her victory in last Saturday’s A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander felt a sense of relief and vindication by the victory after a tumultuous few months battling feet issues with their mare.
“You always want those sorts of horses to showcase a good performance,” Katrina Alexander said. “It was nice to come back and prove that she can do the job, albeit wasn’t a black-type race.
“It was a great sense of relief to begin with and it was an exciting run after you have had the opportunity to watch it a few more times.
“We were really happy when we sent her over, she was in good nick. Travelling does take a lot out of her, it is not an easy thing for her, she does drop body condition quite quickly.
“We have given her a bit of extra time this time in to settle in, she had a week extra than last time (she travelled to Australia), which was helpful. She trained on well over there and we didn’t think like we missed any work, which was really good.
“I think she is maturing mentally all the time with those questions being asked of her. Hopefully next time round we will get a more continuous season with her where we can string a few races together, because it has been target racing (this season) and having to find something else.”
The daughter of Vadamos felt the impact of Saturday’s run in the ensuing days, but Alexander said she has since recovered well and will now enjoy some downtime.
“She came through it relatively well, she was a bit jarry on the Monday that we took her for a light bit of exercise, but that was to be expected because that track was quite firm,” she said.
“We have had a lovely situation where we have been able to put her out in the paddock for a few days and she has recovered relatively quickly from it. That is all very pleasing.
“She will go back into the stable to do a bit of light work to make sure that she feels better than what she did after the race.
“At this stage it looks like we won’t race her again (this time in). There is nothing really terribly suitable for her that doesn’t involve her carrying a hell of a lot of weight to get over the distance we feel she needs to be over when she is in Australia.
“At this stage it will be the end of the line. She will spell there and it is a better climate for that and then we will make a plan from there as to whether she stays there to be pre-trained for her next campaign or not, depending on the weather here (New Zealand).”
La Crique has been plagued by feet issues this season, which resulted in her missing a large part of her autumn preparation, and Alexander is pleased they have finally got on top of the issue, but said it is another good reason to spell her in Queensland.
“It just makes sense,” she said. “She is there, it is a way nicer climate at the moment, and it is dry under foot. We are really happy with her feet, they are in good order, and they have got a good quality hoof wall now, so hopefully that maintains.
“It always makes you a bit nervous when you know you have got that issue and you are not there to keep an eye on it, but we have to trust the people we put her with and they will get a full run down on what her issues are that they need to keep an eye on.”
Alexander has already eyed a pre-trainer in Australia, wanting to avoid the wet spring conditions in New Zealand, and said they will now start weighing up what is best for their mare in her spring preparation, mindful of not wanting to travel her too much.
“It’s not that she doesn’t handle the wet track racing here in the spring, it is just to be able to prepare her on the wet training surfaces that have been a problem,” Alexander said.
“We have a pre-trainer in-mind and when we get closer to that stage we will see what our racing season is looking like. There is definitely racing back here that she is more than capable and is suitable for.
“However, she may come up over there and have a bit of a spring campaign (in Australia) and then really target what we really wanted to go for (this year) like the Doomben Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) later in the season.
“We are trying to minimise the travel we do backwards and forwards (across the Tasman).”
