Horse racing: Richardson believes fillies spot-on for $1.5 million challenge

Lollapalooza (inside) and Fleeting Star galloped well at Te Rapa on Friday. Photo / Kenton Wright

A stirring exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Friday has training partners Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall in positive frame of mind as they put the final polish on Lollapalooza and Fleeting Star ahead of Saturday’s Karaka Millions.

The stablemates looked sharp as they reeled off 1000m on the upgraded soft 6 track in 1m 01.56s and completed their hitout well-held with a final 600m in 34.98s.

“It was very good work and confirmed that they’re on target for Ellerslie,” Richardson said. “They’re both really fit, but I guess they need to be for what’s coming up.”

In her first start since finishing second to Well Written in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Lollapalooza filled the same place behind Tellum in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

“She has put together a very good record in all the big races but she’s still learning, so she’ll be wearing vizor blinkers on Saturday,” Richardson said.

Fleeting Star followed her maiden win at Ellerslie in the second week of December with a strong third in the Eight Carat Classic, confirming that she also deserves her chance in Saturday’s $1.5 million feature.

“We’ve always rated Fleeting Star and just lately she has really come to it. Blinkers have worked well for her and she’ll have them on again,” Richardson said.

With her Eight Carat jockey Opie Bosson committed to He Who Dares, Fleeting Star will be ridden on Saturday by star Queensland jockey Angela Jones, who made such an impression in her first experience of Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

“We’re lucky to be able to engage Angela for such a big race, and Vinnie [Colgan] will stay with Lollapalooza,” Richardson said.

On a TAB fixed odds market dominated by unbeaten filly Well Written at $1.50, Lollapalooza is on the fourth line of betting at $11 and Fleeting Star is longer at $31.

The Richardson/Norvall stable is also pinning its hopes on a Listed TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) start for last-start winner State The Obvious. With earnings of $11,285, the Sword Of State filly is tentatively in 17th place in the starting order, three outside the 14-horse limit.

“She’s a smart filly, so we’ve kept her up to the mark in the hope that she makes the cut,” Richardson said. “It won’t be the end of the world if she doesn’t, but if things were to work out in her favour, we would be keen to see her run.”

Last-start Ellerslie winner Romilly is scheduled to line up on Saturday’s undercard in the Jo Giles Stakes, a $100,000 1400m race for fillies and mares.

“She’s in the right form with that win over the same distance on New Year’s Day and the set weight and penalty conditions should suit her at this stage,” Richardson said.

Romilly’s ownership group includes former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum, and the near neighbours combined to make one purchase at last week’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“We paid $340,000 for a filly by So You Think, which we felt was good buying, especially as they don’t make any more of them by that stallion,” Richardson said.

“Like others that Baz [McCullum] and I put our names to, we’re putting together a partnership and there’s only 25% left in her.”

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk