Written by Paul Vettise
All the key indicators point to Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) breaking through for his first top-flight victory on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival.
The 8-year-old has taken on a new lease of life since transferring to Tony Pike’s successful operation and the Cambridge trainer is in a bullish mood ahead of Saturday’s G1 Tarzino Trophy.
Endless Drama won the G2 Easter H. in the autumn to earn a trip to the Queensland winter carnival where he finished third in the G1 Stradbroke H. and following a let-up he returned to down the highly-regarded Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) in the G2 Foxbridge Plate.
Endless Drama
“Obviously, he come back from Brisbane great and his Foxbridge Plate run couldn’t have been any better,” Pike said. “His trial win before that suggested he was going to go very well.
“We could not have the old boy going any better and he’s got a perfect draw on Saturday. He can stay out of everyone’s way and he should be a strong winning chance again.
“We could not have the old boy going any better and he’s got a perfect draw on Saturday.” – Tony Pike.
“He had plenty of residual fitness from Brisbane and now with the Foxbridge run under his belt he could be a pretty fit racehorse on Saturday.
Safely through the weekend, Endless Drama is likely to return to Hawke’s Bay for the G1 Windsor Park Plate over 1600 metres, but won’t be stretched out in trip for the final leg of the Triple Crown series, the G1 Livamol Classic.
“We’ll probably stay for the mile race, but I don’t think he gets 2000 metres so we’ll freshen him up for Perth and target the Winterbottom S., which is a $1 million weight-for-age race over 1200 metres at the end of November,” Pike said.
Owned by Qatar Racing, Endless Drama was a winner and runner-up in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and third in the G1 Lockinge S. before relocating to Australia.
He won the G2 Apollo S. from Chris Waller’s yard and a subsequent loss of form saw him make his way to Pike’s stable.
“I deal quite a bit with David Redvers and he is very easy to train for. It would be a small consolation to win this after Roaring Lion’s passing, it was devastating for them,” Pike said.
“It would be a small consolation to win this after Roaring Lion’s passing, it was devastating for them.” - Tony Pike.
‘Hopefully this horse can get a deserved Group 1. They would love to find a home for him as a stallion, he’s got a lovely pedigree.
“I’m enjoying racing him and he’s enjoying his racing so we’ll carry on down that path in the meantime.”
Endless Drama is a son of the French stakes winner Desert Drama (Ire) (Green Desert {USA}), who is a half-sister to Listed winners Sharpest Image (Ire) (Exactly Sharp {USA}), Tycoon’s Hill (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) and Tycoon’s Dolce (Ire) (Rainbows For Life {Can}).
Belle back to defend
Among Endless Drama’s chief rivals this weekend is last year's winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who was fourth when resuming in the Foxbridge Plate.
“We’re happy with her and she has worked up well since her good fourth, off the outside gate, in the Foxbridge,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
Melody Belle
Melody Belle was bred by long-time Haunui Farm supporter Marie Leicester and sold through the Karaka farm’s draft for NZ$57,500 to John Galvin’s Fortuna syndication company.
“Marie is our longest resident client. It’s coming up to 40 years and no-one deserves success like her,” Haunui Managing Director Mark Chitty said.
“It hasn’t always been smooth sailing as anyone who has been in the game for 40 years knows.”
Melody Belle as a yearling
Melody Belle is a daughter of Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who has a 2-year-old filly by Tavistock (NZ) which will be trained by Richards for Leicester.
“The mare has a Tavistock yearling colt going to Karaka in 2020 and she’s currently in foal to Not A Single Doubt,” Chitty said. “She’ll more than likely going to head to Snitzel.”
