NZB Insurance Hawke's Bay Guineas Looks a Cracker

NZB Insurance Hawke's Bay Guineas Looks a Cracker
Saturday's $85,000 Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Hawke's Bay
Guineas has attracted a cracking field for the 1400 metre three-year-old
feature.

In a race that boasts some outstanding previous winners like Darci Brahma,
Jokers Wild, Alamosa and Keyora, this year's line up is continuing the
trend by promising a strong contest. Taking a look at the field, a good
place to start is with the ultra-consistent and most experienced colts,
Cellarmaster (Dubawi x Oenology) and Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park x Ciero).

The two colts have been competing against each other in their previous five
starts with Jimmy Choux turning the tables on Cellarmaster in the recent
Listed HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas. This follows last season's battles which
saw them place in both two-year-old Group 1 races behind Champion
Two-Year-Old Banchee and Mr Nacho. With little between them, the barrier
draw could be the deciding factor.

The Roger James trained He's Remarkable (Pentire x Axiom) put his hand up
last start blowing away his opposition in the JJ on Tap (1300m) in Taupo
earlier this month. If he can reproduce the turn of foot that saw him draw
clear to win by two-and-a-quarter-lengths, he will be tough to beat.

Half-brother to Group 1 winner Ekstreme, the big strong colt Maradona (Mr
Nacho x Cashcade) has showed plenty of promise notching up his maiden win
last start. The son of Mr Nacho dealt to his opposition in the hands of
Opie Bosson on Windsor Park Plate day two weeks ago on the Hastings track.
He is another runner that has real appeal in a talented line up.

The Tony Gillies trained Fiddler (Keeninsky x Adonia) won the Listed HS
Dyke Wanganui Guineas last start in a brave front-running display beating
Cellarmaster and Jimmy Choux, and is hard to fault. Also coming off a
strong last start win is the Peter McKay trained Grande Rosso (General
Nediym x Little Deuce Coupe) who won his maiden race over 1200 metres
beating Panthera (One Cool Cat x Tesoro), another consistent performer
lining up in the race.

The Passion for Hair 3YO over 1200 metres saw three race runners go round
the track with the John Morell trained Follow the Birds (O'Reilly x
Annalee) too good beating Undisclosed (Pins x Dare to Win) by
three-quarters-of-a-length, both were good runs coming into Saturday's
race.

Icepin (Pins x Ice Maiden) was also in the race but tailed off for seventh
place, she was found to have a cardiac arrhythmia and has since trialed and
was unplaced. Icepin beat a strong field including Cellarmaster and Jimmy
Choux in the Group 3 Waikato Stud 2YO Classic over 1200 metres and came
second to Sister Havana in the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Million last
season.

We Can Say It Now (Starcraft x We Can't Say That) showed that he is a
contender winning his maiden in his first start beating fellow runner
Panthera. Shotoutofagun (Le Bec Fin x Spandex) and Barefoot
(Footstepsinthesand x Mighty Myrtle) both showed good form as two-year-olds
and will be looking to emulate that on Saturday. The Phoenix (O'Reilly x
The Glitter) produced a winning effort fresh up and battled on for a good
forth last start.

Four three-year-olds lining up on Saturday are eligible to contest the
$200,000 Karaka 3YO Mile on 30 January, the second race in the Karaka
Million Series open to NZB Yearling Sale graduates. They are Icepin,
Maradona, Undisclosed and Grande Rosso. The final field of three-year-olds
will be determined according to their domestic ratings. Details of the
up-to-date Order of Entry for both races can be followed on www.nzb.co.nz.

A prolific race sponsor in its own right, this is New Zealand Bloodstock
Insurance's third sponsorship already this season. NZBI is also one of
three new key strategic partners of the New Zealand Trainers' Association
from this season.

The $85,000 Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Hawke's Bay Guineas
will be run at Hastings at 3.06pm (race six) on Saturday.