Racing: Mongolian Wolf's turn to shine

Mongolian Wolf runs at Randwick today. Photo / Trish Dunell

Another graduate of New Zealand's top three-year-old class of 2017 will be out to make his mark in Sydney this weekend.

Off the back of group one carnival wins for Bonneval, Gingernuts and Jon Snow, Mongolian Wolf will make his first appearance for new owners Australian Bloodstock and champion trainer Darren Weir in today's Frank Packer Plate at Randwick.

"We're really excited to see him go around in our colours," Australian Bloodstock co-director Jamie Lovett said.

"It's a big ask for Darren who's only had the horse for a couple of weeks, but he did come over here in terrific order.

"We'll see how he goes on Saturday - we could push on to the Brisbane carnival or back off and get him ready for the Melbourne spring."

An Australian-bred son of Pluck, Mongolian Wolf won three of his eight starts for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman before his sale.

Two starts back he finished third in the Avondale Guineas before he was unplaced, again behind the subsequent Rosehill Guineas winner Gingernuts, after racing three wide without cover in the New Zealand Derby.

"We're always on the lookout for horses with a bit of upside and this year the New Zealand three-year-olds have been very, very good. The form lines have been strong," Lovett said.

"This one looks like he's still six months away and Darren made that comment, I think even Murray has said that.

"He's still got some maturing to do and as a four-year-old he could be a Caulfield Cup type of horse."

Australian Bloodstock has enjoyed outstanding success, including group one victories with Protectionist (Melbourne Cup, Grosser Preis Von Berlin), Master Of Design (T.J. Smith Stakes), Mawingo (Doomben Cup), Salomina (German Oaks) and Turfdonna (German Oaks).

"We're always looking and we'll buy from anywhere - we do it all ourselves, you have to live and die by your own decisions," Lovett said.

• The Waikato Stud-bound stallion Tivaci will have four further opportunities to break through at group one level before his retirement to the leading Matamata farm.

Twice placed at the top level, the son of High Chaparral will line up in today's All Aged Stakes at Randwick before heading to Brisbane.

"He's got three cracks in Queensland," trainer Mike Moroney said. "Hopefully, the sooner he can get one out of the way, the better."

Tivaci will step up to 1400 metres for the first time this campaign today off the back of his fourth placing behind Chatauqua in the T.J. Smith Stakes.

• Youthful group one performer Joyfilly has been sold to clients of a leading Sydney stable.

The Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes placegetter leaves for Australia later this month to do her future racing for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

"She's still here and she'll be on a plane on April 24," said Cambridge trainer Chris Wood, who also shared in the ownership of the youngster.

"She only had the five starts so she was lightly-tried and she did a great job."

A daughter of the first season sire Highly Recommended, Joyfilly was a trial winner before she ran fifth on debut and finished second at Te Rapa behind Gold Fever. She was again runner-up to the Te Akau representative in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes and she then opened her winning account in dominant fashion at Matamata.

Joyfilly's final appearance was in the group one feature at Awapuni where she was a game third behind the Karaka Million winner Melody Belle.

Wood's immediate attention will now focus on Pacorus, who steps out in today's Hawke's Bay Gold Cup.

"He's very well and I'm happy, I just hope they get the rain there," he said.

Pacorus will drop back in class at Hastings after a last-start fifth in the Awapuni Gold Cup.

Meanwhile, stablemate Roc de Bank is closing in on a return to racing.

- NZ Racing Desk