Racing: Chintz surprises trainer with early brilliance

Rock Diva is bound for the New Zealand Oaks after an impressive win over Moozoon in the McKee Family Sunline Vase yesterday. Photo / Richard Robinson

The $10 on offer about Chintz when on-course betting began for yesterday's $70,000 Westbury Classic at Ellerslie surprised co-trainer Tony Pike.

The $8 when the tote closed was still a surprise to Pike, but he had one reservation, whether his classy mare could stay on the speed on a track that was heavily favouring on-pace runners.

"There is a lot of speed in this race," said Pike moments before the start.

Pike's chief surprise was that Chintz displayed plenty of zip to sit outside the leader, take the lead on the corner then race away to win untested.

Visiting rider Michael Walker's soft hands allowed Chintz to slide forward and the tough-natured mare did the rest.

Pike was worried that Chintz was badly off in the weights with 57kg, but there was only a 2kg spread over the entire field.

Pike's point was that as a rating 91 horse, Chintz was giving weight to horses much more highly rated, I Do (R106) and Zonza (R99).

But Chintz had won the group two Rich Hill Mile before dropping rider Mark Du Plessis on the Trentham track in the early stages of the Thorndon Mile.

Chintz is normally a bitch to handle on raceday, but part-owner Wayne Pike said the mare had been somewhat more settled at Ellerslie yesterday.

Tony Pike said he would aim Chintz at the big metric mile at Tauranga, then the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha and Ellerslie's Easter Stakes.

Abidewithme took second, just from Flower Bomb and Zonza.

Rock Diva put her name in the frame for the Oaks at Trentham on March 15 with her eclipse of the favourite Moozoon in the $70,000 McKee Family Sunline Vase.

And Moozoon, on trial to see if she'd show enough stamina to go to the Oaks, also earned her ticket to Wellington.

Rock Diva proved too strong in the run from the 350m, but only after Moozoon did plenty of early work from a wide gate and took the lead on the home turn.

This was impressive stuff from Rock Diva, the veteran of just three races.

It's a long way from a Pukekohe maiden to this class and Rock Diva handled it brilliantly.

Under Leith Innes she dashed past Moozoon at the 250m like a horse heading places.

Stephen McKee was not disappointed with the performance of Moozoon, even if it meant not only winning, but having to present the Sunline Vase to the horse who had denied his stable victory. "It's probably on the cusp of deciding whether to go to the Oaks or not, but she did plenty of work and didn't give it away.

"And, they are only 3 once."

Rider Mark Sweeney reiterated the same sentiments.

"Facing the breeze down the back straight meant she was breathing harder than normal.

"If she drew a barrier in the Oaks, there is no reason she can't be right in it."