Racing: Last three strides decide path to Oaks

Out Of Align did more in the last three strides of Saturday's $60,000 Desert Gold Stakes than in the remainder of the 1600m.

More, that is, to prove she will manage the 2400m of the New Zealand Bloodstock Oaks in March.

It was only a long neck that she beat Legs and Pulcinella by, but it was a margin she forged under pressure in the last few bounds - exactly the type of filly that wins an Oaks.

It confirmed every thought trainer Gary Vile has had since Out Of Align started racing.

"She answered every question around her with that win," said an emotional Vile.

Asked if she was the best filly he has trained, Vile said: "She's the best horse I've trained."

Noel Harris, on Pulcinella, is a long way from conceding the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic if the pair meet again at Te Rapa.

Harris was hugely disappointed that the No. 1 barrier worked against Pulcinella. It meant he not only had to ride forward early rather than allow Pulcinella to relax, but he had to move through to share the front with two others when the leader stopped at the 500m.

"She's better running at them than getting to the front and having them run at her.

"If her barrier draw had allowed her to be one off in mid-field she would have gone close."

Legs fought bravely along the inside and looks yet another strong Oaks prospect.

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This was REALLY a day for the equestrians.

Yes, Envoy's connections Ken and Bev Kelso were well known in equestrian circles before they entered the racing scene.

Jeff McVean, heavily involved in New Zealand's representative equestian team, won on the Trentham programme with $75 chance Shesalwaysawoman.

The best-known equestrian of all, Mark Todd, produced a real coming star in Willy Smith to win the $40,000 Summer Cup and even Roger James, who trains group one Thorndon winner Macavelli Miss, was involved in Canterbury before entering racing with Jim Gibbs.

It was appropriate that Gisborne horsewoman Merran Hain produced Willy Smith for Mark Todd to train.

Todd rode Hain's horse Bago in the showjumping at the Seoul Olympics.

"He made the final of the showjumping, but unfortunately we didn't make the medals.

"He could jump, but he wasn't as careful as he could have been."

Merran Hain, around 60, still competes and yesterday was showjumping in Auckland.

She has an extremely promising horse in Willy Smith, who had to come from last to just grab the luckless Mac Five, Australian jockey Scott Seamer having to push him through a narrow gap at the 300m.

Seamer was impressed. "He's the sort of horse that next year could be in the big race [Wellington Cup]."

Mark Todd is in no hurry.

"He's a big horse and I want to give him a quiet 4-year-old year. I might find a race for him in Australia."

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Manten is probably the most difficult horse to place currently racing.

It was no surprise he raced right away with Saturday's $30,000 PQ class sprint at Trentham after finishing fourth in the group one Telegraph a week earlier.

On that point, in Australia a horse dropping back from group one to a race just under open class in one week would be carrying 75kg. Manten went up 7kg from the Telegraph, but still looked well placed.

A sprinter a length or two off the best is not easy to find a race for.

Roydon Bergerson, who manages the Manawatu base of the Rogerson/Autridge stable said Manten might be tried at 1400m next start.

"That would give a guide to whether he could be stepped up to 1600m."

Two seasons ago Manten finished second to Kindacross in the 1400m group one Manawatu Sires Produce.

Mi Jubilee finished fifth, 7.2 lengths behind Manten. She looked tremendous in the parade and was once again many lengths below her brilliant best.

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The Trentham crowd is thought to have been one of the biggest for years.

Although there was no accurate count of attendances, track manager Lyn Biddle cannot recall a bigger crowd in his 17 years at the course.

Betting on the 10-race programme was virtually the same as last year when 11 races were held. Off-course betting totalled $4.3 million and on-course betting $1.5 million.