| R8 HASTINGS | 20 September 2014 |
| Windsor Park - Horlicks Plate G1 3U OPEN ($178,000), 1600m 1:34.28 | |
| Race Synopsis: Whatever way you assess the first two legs of the Hastings Triple Crown so far the inescapable fact is a 7yo mare won the first leg and now an 8yo reject from Hong Kong due to being hopelessly out of form won this.
The facts are Pure Champion, an 8yo entire, up until the first day at Hastings had raced fourteen times at G1 in Great Britain and Hong Kong for just one placing.
Since resuming in the weaker depth fields of New Zealand he has placed at G1 (the first day) and won here at G1 over a mile under WFA.
His last seven runs in Hong Kong alone saw either a ninth or tenth finish each time so simply not competitive there anymore.
Today he fought the best to win at G1 under WFA over a mile in 1:34.28 and beat the 7yo mare I Do narrowly.
The last time he won a race was in February of 2013.
He has won up to 1800m but ironically his only G1 placing outside New Zealand came at 2000m so what would he be scared of if going for the third leg of the Triple Crown here over 2040m?
I Do won the first leg of the Triple Crown here narrowly and was not strong on the line that day and more holding on while today she looked likely to win at the 100m but was soft the final stages.
The depth and G1 genuine worth of the Triple Crown has been dubious for a while now with many running in one leg and then off to Australia for far superior stakemoney and prestige.
Now this year we have had a 7yo and then an 8yo win the first two legs and no amount of spin will cover the fact neither has improvement to come as it is not physically possible at such an age.
The low stakemoney also means too many runners are rated way above their more true indicative paygrade and therefore as a group are falsely numbered.
The highest rated New Zealand runner racing at the moment did not bother running in any leg of the Triple Crown and went straight to Australia namely Silent Achiever.
I Do does get the kudos of being the only runner in the first five home that drew outside gate six.
Soriano ran on strongly late and is on song for the third leg of Triple Crown at 2040m.
Zonza was a game fifth beaten less than two lengths after surprisingly setting the pace but also the fact she got company throughout by the totally upside down ridden Pussy O’Reilly
Veyron is a 9yo now and must be sick of getting slaughtered in his races and after a messy start here was wide and working in the midfield.
The last time he won a race the riding change made the difference clearly.
Shuka ran on late and is looking for the 2040m in the last leg of Triple Crown.
Logic says this race, like the first leg of the Triple Crown, shows no improvement in depth for New Zealand racing at the G1 level despite so many rated now locally at 100 or higher and that is an issue itself.
When a 7yo mare then an 8yo entire wins the first two legs then the obvious question arises of where are the younger brigade coming through or even some younger rivals.
Facts are facts so whether this race is only significant for local racing seems almost certain now being down to such a mediocre stake.
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The 2014 running of the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate.
