KEY POINTS:
It's not a race for the fainthearted - and that's why Crossyourheart has to rate highly in New Zealand's richest race for 2-year-olds, says Auckland trainer Richard Collett.
Crossyourheart goes into the $500,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Classique (1200m) at Te Rapa today unbeaten in three starts.
But it
was not just the horse's form which made her the one to beat, according to Collett.
"It's a race that comes down to the brave,"said Collett. "And she's a tough filly. Nothing much worries her."
Collett had no hesitation in rating Crossyourheart the most exciting 2-year-old he has trained and said her preparation had gone without a hitch.
"She's a natural 2-year-old. She's had no issues, she's had a really good prep," he said.
The best of Crossyourheart's three wins was in a $50,000 race for 2-year-olds over 1200m at Ellerslie on November 25.
She led over the last 500m to score by three-quarters of a length from Mallinson Road with The Pooka third. Mallinson Road and The Pooka are again rivals today.
Collett said Crossyourheart had since strengthened considerably.
"She's a lot bigger and stronger than when she won that stakes race at Ellerslie. She's improving all the time," he said.
Crossyourheart has drawn five in a field that will have no more than 14 runners - there are four emergencies - but Collett said although she had led, or raced close to the pace, in previous races that did not mean rider Leith Innes would be all out for the lead.
"Leith's a good judge of pace. He'll know if they are going too hard and then he can just put her in a good spot behind the pace.
"But the draw will make our job a bit easier if we are good enough."
One of her toughest opponents should be The Pooka who was an impressive last-start winner of the group two $100,000 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Trentham on January 20.
Crossyourheart has not run in a race of similar grade but Collett said that was no reason to underestimate her chances. "She's beaten everything she's come up against," he said.
Collett said the Wakefield Challenge was a muddling run affair and The Pooka would find Saturday's race a tougher assignment.
"It will be a different race completely, it will be a pressure race."
The Pooka was third to Crossyourheart at Ellerslie on November 25 and did well after being checked early, running home strongly to be just over a length from the winner.
That form was franked when The Pooka won the Wakefield. The Pooka came from the outside barrier in a field of nine to lead and then kicked clear in the straight to score by two lengths in good time.
Others who rate highly include Grand Dancer and Alamosa.
Grand Dancer, trained in Auckland by Bruce Wallace, beat Seppelt (again a rival today) to win the group three $70,000 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 1 after having finished second in his debut.
Alamosa, from the Waikato stable of Peter McKay, was twice a winner at Hastings in the spring, including the $50,000 Wellesley Stakes which was transferred from Trentham.
- NZPA