Plus, we all love alliteration like wonderful Winx.
Anyway, she’s back at the races, and was paying a massive $1.35 yesterday to win the Warwick Stakes tomorrow against six other rivals — some of them looking for a good 1km more than tomorrow’s 1400m.
Regardless, just tune in for every race she targets this spring including the Cox Plate — she’s something special. Even wonderful, you might say.
Save the date
Another reminder for you that New Zealand Racing Board chief executive John Allen will be in Dunedin on Tuesday for a roadshow at which he will update the public about the state of play within the racing industry and will also get feedback from those at the coalface.
To register, head to http://www.nzracingboard.co.nz — look for "A Conversation with NZRB" under the latest news section.
The Dunedin session is at Forbury Park on Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm.
Still dozing
Other than the Grand National carnival at Riccarton earlier this month, it still feels like the new thoroughbred season is in slumber in the South Island.
A quick look at the calendar explains why. Since the last day of the carnival on August 13, there is nothing local for southern punters to sink their teeth into until Ashburton next Friday.
But if you track further south, you have to wait until the Otago Racing Club meeting at Wingatui on September 9 for a thoroughbred meeting south of the Waitaki River.
The next after that?
Gore on September 23.
Yes, the tracks tend to take longer to dry the further south you go during the winter, but it does seem like quite the wait to get a in-the-flesh fix of thoroughbred racing.
The blood stirs
What marks spring for you, other than September 1?
Is it the blossoming of various flora around your town?
Is it a bout of firm wind and sun-showers?
For others, the start of the build-up to New Zealand Cup Week in the equine codes marks the real beginning of spring.
The nominations for this year’s New Zealand Trotting Cup have a "renewal" feel about them too.
Have Faith In Me, Lazarus, Titan Banner and Costa Del Magnifico all add an extra dash of spice to this year’s edition — provided they all get there.
Lazy FiverSecond Innings was hitting the ball right in the middle of the bat on Saturday, winning the 0-1 win hurdle.
Seeing as I’m taking a few days off in Auckland from today and heading to the Pakuranga Hunt Cup meeting tomorrow, we’ll aim for Persuasive in the last race at Ellerslie tomorrow.
