Team Williams, who have made an art out of setting their horses for the Cups and Derbies, were delighted by the effort of their VRC Derby hope Collar (O'Reilly-Laebeel) to run second in the important lead-up, theGroup Two €“ Mitchelton Wines Vase (2040m) on Saturday
The stakeswinning LA bred three-year-old gelding had to do considerably more work in the running than the winner and current Derby favourite Manawanui, yet was still finding the line strongly at the end of the 2000m event.
History shows that form from the Moonee Valley event holds-up extremely well for the Derby and beyond, in fact two previous runners-up in the Mitchelton Wines Vase(previously AAMI Vase), Mahogany and Elvstroem, both went onto win the Derby and a host of other group one races.
In the same week that his half brother was performing so admirably on the racetrack, the Pins-Laebeel two-year-old colt galloped sharply during the Breeze-Ups for New Zealand Bloodstock's upcoming Ready to Run Sale. The 30 November foal, recorded a promising 10.48 for his 200m hit out which looks sure to cement his standing as one of the standout lots of the Sale, which gets underway at Karaka on 15 November. The quickest time for the 300 plus two-year-olds was 10.22.
The half brother to Collar and dual group winner Larry's Never Late sells as Hip 185 early on the second day of the Sale. LA's other Ready to Run entrants, who are all part of the highly regarded Lyndhurst Farm draft, sell as follows:
Lot 74 Darci Brahma/ Clermont Rose colt
Lot 198 Zabeel/Loose Lil colt
Lot 283 Savabeel/Rivertaine colt
Towkay's run of winners continues unabated with Xpectation (Towkay-Wooden Doll) picking up another American success, this time over 1400m at Keeneland in Kentucky on 14 October, while domestically Cee Gee Jay (Towkay-Marjie Marjie) made it two wins and a third from her last three starts with a victory over 2000m.
