NEWS
Banchee, Vosne Romanee shine at Ellerslie
Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 2:32 PM
by Mike Curry
Promising two-year-old filly Banchee held off a pair of late challengers to win the Ford Diamond Stakes (NZ-G1) by a nose, and Vosne Romanee unfurled a powerful closing kick in the stretch to win the Skycity New Zealand Stakes (NZ-G1) on Sunday at Ellerslie.
The $140,260 Diamond Stakes for two-year-olds and the $140,260 New Zealand Stakes were the co-features on the ten-race card.
Banchee broke alertly in the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) Diamond but settled into a comfortable rhythm in fourth under Leith Innes while saving ground as Sirrio and Nacho Man dueled for the lead.
Banchee accelerated on cue when angled off the rail in the straight and took charge from just outside the two early leaders. The Oratorio (Ire) filly battled determinedly through the final 100 meters to narrowly hold off runner-up Cellarmaster and third-place finisher Jimmy Choux.
Banchee completed 1,200 meters in 1:09.72 on turf rated as good to improve to three wins, one second, and one third from five starts for owners Sam and Belinda Kelt and trainer John Sargent. A half sister to Katie Lee, winner of last season’s New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (NZ-G1) and New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas (NZ-G1), Banchee is out of group stakes winner Miss Jessie Jay, by Spectacularphantom.
Cellarmaster was full of run in the stretch under Opie Bosson but could not penetrate a wall of horses. The group stakes-winning Dubawi colt closed with a rush after splitting foes but could not reel in the winner. He edged third-place finisher Jimmy Choux by a nose.
Vosne Romanee lengthened his stride in the stretch under Bosson and shook free for a one-length win in the New Zealand Stakes and his third Group 1 victory.
Trained by Jeff Lynds for the Ian and Alana Smart Trust, Vosne Romanee completed 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 2:01.63 for his ninth win from 29 starts. The seven-year-old Electronic Zone gelding won the Kelt Capital Stakes (NZ-G1) and Zabeel Classic (NZ-G1) in 2009. He is out of the Morcon (GB) mare Madison Avenue.
Harris Tweed edged Tell A Tale by a head for second.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
