Planet Rock, the Riccarton filly who impressively won the 2yr-old race at Ellerslie on Saturday, has the Karaka Million as her next assignment.
Planet Rock settled back in the field over 1200m and finished strongly to win by a length and three-quarters. The $6400 winning stake elevated her to 11th in the order of entry for the $1 million race at Ellerslie on January 30. There is a maximum field of 14.
"She has come through the race perfectly," Peter Williams, the co-trainer of Planet Rock, said. He is quartered at Takanini.
Michael Coleman, who rode Planet Rock on Saturday, has retained the mount. Planet Rock is owned by Sarah Green, of Ashburton, and Ger Beemsterboer, of the Netherlands.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock and Akris finished second at Trentham in her other start. She was a $290,000 purchase at the premier yearling sale last February when offered by Wellfield Stud, Palmerston North.
Her sire won the group one Lightning Stakes at Flemington and he has sired the Australian One Guineas winner, Irish Lights.
She is the first foal of Akris, a winner over 2200m in Australia. She is a half-sister by Zabeel to Gorky Park (a listed race winner to 3200m) and Manzeal, a listed race and Crisp Steeplechase winner.
A brother to Planet Rock is in the premier sale next month.
Peter and Dawn Williams trained Sir Frankie for the same owners but the Volksraad gelding went amiss after a last-start win in December 2008. He won four of his eight starts.
• Bacio Francese credited her sire Lucky Unicorn with his first winner when the 2yr-old filly won against older horses at her first start at Greymouth on Saturday.
Bacio Francese was among four winners for the Balcairn stable of John and Karen Parsons. The others were Livana, Karamu and Straitothepoolroom.
Bacio Francese is raced by Gavin Eastwick, Roger Lynch and Richard Yardley, all of Christchurch. Eastwick and Yardley also race Livana. They have been long-time clients of the Parsons stable.
The trio raced Pledge, the South Island filly of the year in 2001-02.
They bought Bacio Francese from breeder Sir Patrick Hogan, who stands Lucky Unicorn at his Cambridge stud.
Lucky Unicorn (by Redoute's Choice) won in Hong Kong at 2 and 3. He won the listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington at 4.
Bacio Francese is the ninth foal of Smooch, a Rory's Jester mare.
• Mr Tipsy, winner of the Marton Cup at Awapuni on Saturday, now has the Wellington Cup in his sights, NZPA reports.
Mr Tipsy carried 56.5kg on Saturday. He has 53.5kg in the $200,000 Wellington Cup (2400m) on January 29. He is not liable for a rehandicap.
Mr Tipsy was having his third start back from a spell. He ran third in the 2000 Sydney Cup and second to Spin Around in the Auckland Cup that year. He missed the Auckland Cup last year due to a hoof problem. He was turned out and did not race for nine months.
The Marton Cup was the eighth stakes race win this season for his Cambridge trainers, Murray and Bjorn Baker. The wins include the VRC Derby with Lion Tamer.
The Bakers are considering campaigning Mr Tipsy in Tasmania next month. Races available are the $A300,000 Hobart Cup (2200m) on February 13 and the $A225,000 Launceston Cup (2400m), 10 days later.
The value of the Australian dollar and the absence of the best Australian stayers are the attraction.
"He's still on the way up. He's a good stayer and he's got a good record," Murray Baker said.
The $31,2500 first prize took Mr Tipsy's stake earnings to $476,000 from eight wins and six placings in 23 starts.
