Bill Thurlow is hoping to be the toast of his home track on Thursday before trekking north to Champions Day at Ellerslie with Whangaehu (NZ) (Proisir), his contender in the $1 million Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).
The Waverley horseman will be represented by half a dozen runners at the mid-week meeting, including impressive last-start maiden winner Champagne Linda (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The daughter of Darci Brahma had been knocking on the door throughout her career, and after coming back a stronger mare at four, she will be out to replicate that winning performance in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m).
“She was really good last time, she’s a horse that always seemed to run into one to get beaten and by really narrow margins too,” Thurlow said.
“She’s just a bit stronger this time in, her run last time was really good and we think she’s trained on really well, she’s got a nice draw and on her home track. There are plenty of positives for her.”
Champagne Linda will have the services of northern hoop Ryan Elliot, who will also partner stablemate Rebal Agent (NZ) (Complacent) in the Grainhub (1650m) and first-starter Black Sea (NZ) (Staphanos) in the Devane Fencing / Neil Contracting (1400m).
A winner two starts back in a fresh state, Rebal Agent will come back in distance on Thursday, a factor that Thurlow sees as no cause for concern.
“He’s a bit of a one-pacer and likes to roll along and keep rolling, rather than sit and sprint,” Thurlow said.
“It wasn’t a huge surprise when he won, it was a very smart ride by Marc Lerner that day and he managed to dictate terms, and he kept going. He has to be ridden that way and I think he’ll acquit himself well tomorrow, he’s been working well and coming back from 2000 shouldn’t be a problem for him.
“Black Sea is just going to be a really nice staying type of horse, he’s quite a big, good-boned horse so it’s taken a bit of time to get to where we are now.
“I think tomorrow will be a tad too short for him, but if he’s finding the line well, we’ll be very happy with him.”
A younger member of Thurlow’s stable having his first raceday appearance will be Landman (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), a two-year-old gelding by in-form juvenile sire Hello Youmzain. A winner in his only trial, Landman holds an early nomination for the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on March 29.
“He’s a horse we really like, he’s a good, strong, well-made horse with plenty of bone,” Thurlow said. “I don’t know that he’s winning tomorrow, but going forward, he’s got plenty of substance about him.”
Thurlow also has plenty of time for Miss Firebal (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), a Ten Sovereigns filly who flew home late last-start to finish a close-up second to Colour Chart. She is at the top of the TAB market for the Wanganui Motors (1400m), but her trainer indicated the filly still has plenty to learn.
“It was a really good run last time, she’s one of those horses who is still learning her game a bit and she still manages to get tangled up in anything that’s going on,” he said.
“She’s not quite professional yet, but she has got a good amount of ability, and I think she’ll get there at some point, it’s just a matter of whether that’s tomorrow or not.
“Going a little bit extra over 1400m on her home track should suit her down to the ground off the way that she’s been racing. She’s done well since then so we expect her to run well.”
A short turnaround will be in order for Thurlow as he’ll be off to Ellerslie’s mega-meeting on Saturday, with talented stayer Whangaehu representing the Central Districts in an elite edition of the Bonecrusher.
A six-year-old by Proisir, Whangaehu was a handy galloper when he returned from Australia 18 months ago, but he has thrived in Thurlow’s care, particularly this season when winning both the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m) and Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m), before an eye-catching third behind El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) and La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa last month.
The gelding finished a meritorious seventh in last year’s Gr.2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) and Thurlow had hoped to set his charge for another crack at that feature, but after such a strong campaign, he has been weighted out of contention.
“It’s just the way he’s placed in the weights at the moment, he’s weight-for-age at this stage so it (Bonecrusher) seems like the right fit for him at the moment,” he said.
“He’s just done his work at home, pottering around here and has gone to town for a couple of hit-outs. He’s happy and well.
“We probably hadn’t planned for him to go this way, we more so saw him as a handicap horse, but it’s just the way that it’s worked out with a couple of handicap wins and a Group Three. It’s pushed him up there so that’s where we are now.”
A vintage field includes both El Vencedor and La Crique, as well as Orchestral, but Whangaehu will have the advantage of Kiwi-expat hoop Mick Dee on board, fresh off his recent success in the A$2 million Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).
