3 minute read
Dark Alley has bright future; Bell hoping history repeats for Julius; Inferno out of Hong Kong feature; Sure Will Do aiming for hattrick
Dark Alley has bright future
Local trainers Guy Lowry and Grant Cullen produced a smart 1200m maiden winner in Dark Alley at the Hawke's Bay meeting on Wednesday.
The four-year-old son of Per Incanto covered plenty of ground after drawing barrier 14, but won with a bit in hand under Craig Grylls.
The gelding won at Taupo trials last month, more than a year after his previous trial success.
"I rode him at the Taupo trials and he gave me a great feel that day," Grylls said.
"He didn't have the best of runs today but luckily he goes pretty well and I am sure he will carry on."
The gelding is raced by Lowry in conjunction with breeders Little Avondale.
Bell hoping history repeats for Julius
High-class nine-year-old Julius will present in excellent order in Saturday's Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa where he will shoulder 60.5kgs.
The injury-plagued sprinter is following a similar path to last year, where he finished fourth in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) before going on to win the J Swap Sprint followed by the Gr.1 Railway (1200m).
"He is very well and has worked up quite superbly," trainer John Bell said.
"Last year he ran fourth at Counties, then he won this and went on to Group One glory in the Railway.
"I think that if he can run in the first few, it would be just perfect as a lead-in to his main aim which is the Railway."
After finishing fourth behind rising star Levante in the Counties Bowl last start, the stars look to be aligning for the powerfully built galloper, who has drawn well in barrier 3 for Saturday's assignment.
Inferno out of Hong Kong feature
Inferno has been ruled out of Sunday's Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
The son of Holy Roman Emperor, who was one of three overseas runners in the Group One feature, failed the vet check on Tuesday when he was found to be lame in his left front leg.
A graduate of Westbury Stud's 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft, Inferno has been in red hot form in Singapore, winning his last four starts including the Lion City Cup (1200m) and Singapore Guineas (1600m).
"It's unfortunate that Singapore looks like they've got such a nice horse and it would have been great to see him compete against our horses here, but there's no use competing if you're not right – it's an unfair fight," said jockey Zac Purton who was booked to ride the Singapore speedster in the Hong Kong feature.
Sure Will Do aiming for hattrick
New Zealand-bred gelding Sure Will Do will put his unbeated record on the line when he lines up in a 1200m event in Singapore on Saturday.
The Stephen Gray-trained son of Per Incanto posted a winning debut over 1200m in October, backing it up with a win over the same distance last month when he demolished his rivals by drawing clear to gap them by 2 ¾ lengths.
"This horse has kept stepping up," Gray said. "He impressed me with his last win, when he carried his weight in a Novice.
"We didn't want him to lead, but he kicked away from them and left nice horses behind. Some were very good three-year-olds who have gone on to win."
Gray is not changing the winning combination for the steering duties. Champion apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong, who is on the cusp of landing back-to-back titles, will be attempting to extend the unblemished record to three.
"Simon stays on. He doesn't ride him in trackwork as the rules (apprentice jockeys can't ride trackwork for trainers other than their master) don't allow him," said Gray.
"The horse seems to have improved both physically and mentally. We have chipped away with the same pattern, but on his breeding, he can get further one day.
"These horses get beaten one day, too, you know, but for now, I don't change what works.
"After this run, I will give him a bit of a break and see what feature races come up next year. Most probably, it'll be the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, but the details for 2021 are not out yet."
Sure Will Do was purchased out of Little Avondale's 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft for $210,000.