Listed Lord Mayor's Cup, Rosehill
Race Summary:
It was an interstate double for OTI Racing within minutes on Saturday when Fastnet Tempest’s victory at Morphettville was followed quickly by Grey Lion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Rosehill.
Grey Lion was easy to spot in the run, living up to his name as the only grey in the field as he settled in about fifth, lengths behind the battling leaders of Taikomochi (Snitzel) and Alward (Ire)(Aqlaam {GB}), who opened about five lengths on the field in the 2000 metre race.
The pair slowed down to a more sensible pace after a few hundred metres and let the field catch up as their battle quickly ended and turned into Taikmochi having a small but comfortable lead on his partner.
As they turned into the straight, Grey Lion was only about a length behind the leaders and he joined them with 300 metres left to run. He built a narrow lead soon after that with the field closing in around him and Girl Tuesday (Street Cry {Ire}) looking to challenge for the lead. The grey was determined to keep his head in front even with the field closing in around him, never letting second placed Girl Tuesday closer than a head with five horses within a length of the winner.
Live And Free (NZ) (Savabeel) finished third with Chris Waller’s runners finishing second and fourth through sixth.
Pedigree Notes:
Bred on the infamous Galileo/Danehill cross, Grey Lion is from Group 1 winner Grey Lilas (Ire) (Danehill), who is also the dam of triple Group 1 winner Golden Lilac (Ire) (Galileo), and Listed winner Golden Guepard (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), with one of her six winners also producing Listed winner Palombe (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
A half-sister to a Listed winner, Grey Lilas has seven other stakes winners under her first three dams.
The mare’s youngest two are a 2-year-old colt by Gleneagles (Ire) and a yearling filly by Australia (GB), making both of them three-quarter siblings to Grey Lion.
Listed Rangitikei Gold Cup, Awapuni
Race Summary:
Hinerangi (Fastnet Rock) was eager to run under Robert Hannam in the 1600 metre race with the jockey struggling to keep her behind pacemaker Prosecco (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) early in the race.
Settling down after about 400 metres, the mare was happy to tackle the leader with 600 metres left to run and swung into the straight as the leader. That wasn’t an easy position to keep for the mare as Red Sierra (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) ran head-to-head with her, not willing to give away the chance at a win.
Hinerangi finally wore that rival down with 150 metres left to run and started to pull away slightly as two other members of the field tried to run her down. But their efforts weren’t enough with only Red Sierra within a length of the winner at the line after putting in a late rally to try and close the margin again in the closing stages.
Dolcetto (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Sergeant Blast (NZ) (Darci Braham {NZ}) were the two horses who had tried to close late, finishing second and third respectively with the rest of the field four or more lengths behind the winner.
Pedigree Notes:
The first foal from Hinemoa (NZ), Hinerangi is also her only runner. Hinerangi is a two-time Listed winner who is a half-sister to two other stakes horses.
Her half-sisters have produced three stakes horses including Group 2 winner Graphic (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and Group 1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas placed Sweepstake (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Hinemoa has a 2-year-old Savabeel gelding named Putorino (NZ), who was passed in at the 2018 Karaka Ready To Run Sale and has a yearling full sister to that gelding. The mare was served by Savabeel again in 2018.
