As the dust settles on the major feature racing over spring, summer and autumn, and the wet-trackers come out to play, Matt Smith looks back at the six most exciting Otago gallopers to race during the warmer months - in a rough order.
Chapel Star
Terry Kennedy and Chapel Star's owner, Lindsay Parr, made a wise investment when they spent $12,000 to secure the son of King's Chapel and Staring in 2010. The 4yr-old has now won four of his 13 starts, with all four of those victories coming this season. He finished no further back than fourth in his eight starts this season, and climbed 32 rating points to 82 points after starting his season as a maiden in December.
Best win: His three-length runaway win at Ascot Park in February - which also gave Kennedy his 100th training win - against a handy rating 75 field.
Next season: Chapel Star will be aimed at the Coupland's Mile during New Zealand Cup week in November and will come back into work in mid-July.
Ric O'Shea
Just two wins for the O'Reilly gelding this season, but one of them was in Otago's feature race of the year, the White Robe Lodge Handicap. The 5yr-old warmed up for the Wingatui win with a slashing second at Gore carrying 63.5kg, and trainer Steven Prince's unorthodox approach paid off with the one-length win over Natuzzi in the group 3 1600m.
Best win: The White Robe Lodge Handicap was a sweet win for Prince, adding to his success with Volronamo in the same race in 2004.
Next season: Prince says the Coupland's Mile will be the main aim, but he just hopes to find a good lead-up race or two prior to the group 2 mile. Ric O'Shea will be brought back in at the end of next month or early July to get ready.
Ridley
Trainer Joanne Hillis is rarely without a good horse, and Ridley certainly fits that bill. The Handsome Ransom gelding was as honest as they came this season, winning four of his nine starts, and finishing in the top four in all but one of his other five starts. Jockey Darryl Bradley believes the gelding is a stayer in the making after winning on him at Wingatui in March.
Best win: His Wingatui open handicap win in March over other home-track rivals such as The Solitaire, Ric O'Shea and The Glitzy One confirmed his considerable talents.
Next season: Ridley could be on a collision course with Chapel Star and Ric O'Shea in the Coupland's Mile. Hillis said he would commence work in July.
The Glitzy One
The Flying Spur mare ended the season on a high with victory in the Great Autumn Stakes at Riccarton earlier this month. Trainer Steve Anderton tested out her talents with two starts in the North Island, and her fifth in the Marton Cup was meritorious. Three wins from 11 starts represents a good season's work for the 5yr-old.
Best win: The heavy track probably did not suit the mare in the Great Autumn Stakes but she battled through the mud bravely to win by two lengths.
Next season: Back in work in July to prepare for the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton.
The Solitaire
Another gritty season in the top grades for the daughter of O'Reilly. Trainer Steve Anderton lined her up 10 times and she recorded top-four finishes in five black-type races, including a win in the South Island Breeders Stakes, for her southern owners, the Dennis brothers. She, like the Glitzy One, was campaigned in the North Island, and was not far off in fourth in the group 3 Trentham Stakes.
Best win: The Solitaire overcame group 2 winner Platinum Princess in the Breeders' Stakes. That gets the nod ahead of her Coupland's Mile trial win.
Next season: Joining The Glitzy One in work in July for the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton.
Natuzzi
As good as Natuzzi has been this year, the best could be yet to come. The 4yr-old Coats Choice gelding was unlucky in the White Robe Lodge Handicap behind Ric O'Shea after wins at Timaru and Omakau earlier in the season, before trainer Paul Richards decided to take on the northerners at Trentham on New Zealand Oaks day. Sure enough, Natuzzi stamped himself as a sprinter of some promise with a win in the $50,000 Lightning Handicap before finishing the season off with a game third in the Great Easter Stakes.
Best win: The Lightning Stakes at listed level easily tops the list. Natuzzi and Chris Johnson made the opposition look second-rate with a 1 length win.
Next season: Richards reported Natuzzi is out in the paddock until the beginning of July and the Stewards Handicap during New Zealand Cup week is his first main target.
