A big weekend lies ahead for the OTI stable with runners in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
Tonight Corrs will be heading to ‘The Valley’ for a Benchmark 78 over 2500m. Matt Cumani is positive ahead of the race and is expecting a good run by the progressive filly. She won impressively last time out over 2300m and the step up in distance should suit.
We are hopeful that Petruchio will get his run at Lingfield Park (UK) overnight, but due to the atrocious weather in the UK, it is quite possible that the meeting will be cancelled. Last time out he broke his maiden in dominant fashion and will be very competitive if the race goes ahead.
Saturday we look forward to Group races both in New Zealand and Australia. Romancer will be first to head out of the barriers in the Group 3 Darley Plate at Ellerslie. Last time out he was a runner-up in the G3 Brighthill Farm Concorde Handicap and the stable report he is in good form. Following this race, Vin de Dance will be stepping out in the G1 New Zealand Derby, which is set to be a very exciting race. Last start Vin de Dance was a placegetter in the G2 Avondale Guineas and has been pleasing the stable ahead of his Derby preparations.
At Flemington, we have two horses heading to the track. The first horse to step out is the spring star, Aloisia in the G1 Australian Guineas. Over the shorter than ideal 1400m first-up, the filly showed an impressive turn of foot in the last 400m when finishing 5th. The stable have reported great improvement since her last start and, from an awkward barrier draw, where she positions herself in the run will be important. In the last race on the card at Flemington, Angelic Spirit will be making her return in the Saintly Handicap over 1400m. After an impressive trial win on 26th February, we have high hopes for this Echoes of Heaven filly as we head into the autumn campaign.
Best of luck to all connections.
