Super Field For Mercedes 2yo Classique
1 February 2003
The talent packed field is headed by the Mark Walker trained duo of King's Chapel (King of Kings x Lower Chapel) and Maroofity (Maroof x Howkudai), who look set to break the stranglehold that fillies have had on the race over the last few years.
The Walker pair are undoubtedly the horses to beat, having won five races between them. King's Chapel is the unbeaten winner of the $150,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude for Colts and Geldings and a Mercedes Super Bonus Jackpot race while Maroofity's victories include the Group 2 Ford Wakefield Challenge Stakes and the Listed Ford Welcome Stakes. The only blemish to Maroofity's record was when he was runner up to his stablemate in the Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude.
The other in form colts and geldings in the Classique include Romar Dale (Armidale x Rose of Belldale), the smart winner of three races, and the consistent, last start winner Ubiquitous (Tale of the Cat x Zahra). Taiters (End Sweep x Polly's Pocket), who was an unlucky third on debut, rounds out the male contingent.
Leading the charge for the fillies is the Colin Jillings and Richard Yuill representative Foxette (Entrepreneur x Blucielo), winner of the $150,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude for Fillies on Boxing Day. The promising Robert Priscott runner Traffic Stopper (Volksraad x Startling Lady), who ran a slashing second on debut in the Fillies Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude, also rates as an excellent chance, as do the aptly named Tale of the Cat fillies, Purrfection (Tale of the Cat x Nothing Less) and Swing the Cat (Tale of the Cat x Awave).
The remaining fillies are no less impressive. Pay My Bail (Justice Prevails x Ebony Jane) won the Listed Fairview Ford Stakes at her first start, while Danette (Danske x Amynette) has run two nice seconds, the last to Maroofity. Eftee One (Volksraad x Bashful Lady) is a last start winner, Shadowfax Babe (Volksraad x Pavillion) has placed at her last three starts and Vel Canto (Danasinga x Donna's Gold) placed on debut.
For the chance to have a runner in next season's $500,000 Mercedes 2YO Classique, the richest race in New Zealand, purchase a yearling from the National Yearling Sales Series and enrol them in the Mercedes Super Bonus Series. For more information contact Guy Mulcaster or Nikki Reed at New Zealand Bloodstock on (09) 298 0055 or email guy@nzb.co.nz or nikki@nzb.co.nz.