Cover image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) stepped up to Group 3 level for the first time in the New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold S., and she swept her rivals aside in a scintillating performance.
Ridden by Craig Grylls for Matamata trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander, La Crique settled in fifth place and loomed ominously in the background as the last-start G2 Wellington Guineas placegetter Sassy Merlot (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) sprinted out of the trail to take command around the home turn.
Sassy Merlot’s lead was short-lived as La Crique roared past her in the straight, bounding away to score by 4.5l.
La Crique (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“It worked out perfectly,” Grylls said. “She lobbed into the one-one from a perfect draw, and she relaxed beautifully the whole way.
“She just jogged up to them turning in, and I was trying to wait and wait before I let her go. She showed a really good turn of foot and was strong all the way to the line. She’s beaten a couple of very handy horses impressively today.”
La Crique is raced by her breeders, John and Jan Cassin, who have also won four races from 12 starts with the filly’s 4-year-old half-brother Bari (NZ) (Proisir).
"She showed a really good turn of foot and was strong all the way to the line. She’s beaten a couple of very handy horses impressively today.” - Craig Grylls
From six starts, La Crique has now recorded four wins and two placings. Her last-start victory at Ellerslie came at the expense of The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the G1 New Zealand Thousand Guineas at Riccarton in November. The fourth placegetter in that race was Pin Me Up (NZ) (Pins), who won last Saturday's R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
The Alexanders now have their eyes on Group 1 gold for La Crique, with the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 5 and New Zealand Oaks at Trentham two weeks later at the top of the wish list.
“That was a brilliant win,” Katrina Alexander said. “I was thinking, ‘Leave me some for next time, Gryllsy,’ but he had his game plan to have her thereabouts and then go at the 200-metre mark, and he rode to that really well.
“I was thinking, ‘Leave me some for next time, Gryllsy,’ but he had his game plan to have her (La Crique) thereabouts and then go at the 200-metre mark, and he rode to that really well." - Katrina Alexander
“I’ve always known she will go this distance and further, but she is unique in that she has also shown she has brilliant gate speed, which probably had people thinking she might not get over a distance. I believe she will just go on and get better as she gets older.
“Now we will need to go back and look at the timing of everything for her, with the Derby high on the list as well as the Oaks. We’ll have a talk with her owners and we could also look at overseas, although the logistics of that at the moment make it very hard.
“We’ll give her a bit of time, see what this big trip has done to her, and then make a plan from there.”
Craig Grylls aboard La Crique (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Third stakes winner for Vadamos
La Crique is by the G1 Prix du Moulin winner and Cox Plate fourth placegetter Vadamos (Fr), who shuttles to Rich Hill Stud for a service fee of NZ$12,500 (plus GST).
With his oldest progeny now 3-year-olds, Vadamos has now sired three stakes winners – all in New Zealand during the 2021/22 racing season. Syndicators Go Racing won the Listed Canterbury Belle S. in September with 3-year-old filly Art De Triomphe (NZ), while undefeated 2-year-old filly Grace’s Secret (NZ) has a perfect two-from-two record including the Listed Welcome S. in November. La Crique’s Desert Gold S. heroics made her the first Group winner for Vadamos.
