Quality Field for NZB Finance Sprint
Friday, Apr 14, 2017
A high-class field of 14 speedsters will clash at Hastings on Saturday in a high-octane renewal of the $50,000 Listed
New Zealand Bloodstock Finance Sprint (1200m).
One of the feature sprints of the autumn in New Zealand, the race has carried black-type status for the last three
years. It was won by Whosyourmaster(NZ) (Captain Rio) in 2014 and 2015, and by Passing Shot (NZ) (Swiss Ace) in 2016.
Passing Shot has returned to defend his title in the 2017 edition of the race, in which he will be opposed by the stakes
winners Taurus (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), Amarula (NZ) (Thorn Park), Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano), Reilly Lincoln (NZ) (Pins) and Rocanto (NZ) (Per Incanto), along with stakes placegetters Volks Lightning (NZ) (Volksraad), Smashing (NZ) (Pins), Snowdrop (NZ) (Pins) and Bonniegirl (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
The NZB Finance Sprint will be run as Race 7 at Hastings on Saturday, with a start time of 4.00pm.#HorseDrawCommentsTrainerJockey1Taurus10The 60-kilogram topweight, Taurus (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) has had 58 starts for 10 wins, 20 placings and more than $280,000 in prize-money. He scored his
first stakes win in last year's Listed Ag Challenge Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui, and he has placed in another nine stakes
races. He will try to add to an outstanding sprinting season for Evan and JJ Rayner, who also train the dual Group 1
winner Start Wondering (NZ) (Eighth Wonder).Evan & JJ RaynerJohnathan Parkes2Amarula12Winner of the Group 2 Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) at this track in 2015, Amarula (NZ) (Thorn Park) has recorded six wins and six placings in his 19-start career and earned more than $186,000 in
stakes. He was recently gelded. Shaun McKay takes the mount for his parents, Peter and Kim, who own the four-year-old.Peter McKayShaun McKay3Shadow Fox Scratched 4Underthemoonlight9Trained by Karyn McQuade, who bred and owns her in partnership with her husband Hamish, Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano) emerged as a high-quality racemare with an outstanding run of performances last winter and spring.
She won four races, including a six-length demolition in the Group 3 Taranaki Breeders' Stakes (1400m), and placed in
another six including a second in the Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m). She also finished a close and unlucky fourth in
the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m). She won a trial recently.Karyn McQuadeMichael Coleman5Reilly Lincoln8Reilly Lincoln (NZ) (Pins) was a Group 3 winner of the Stewards' Stakes (1200m) in November, then went on to run third in the Group 1
Railway Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m).Lisa LattaDarryl Bradley6Passing Shot1Swiss Ace gelding Passing Shot (NZ) is the winner of three stakes races, including last year's running of this event. He hasn't won in 10 starts since
then, although he was an encouraging last-start second over this distancce at Ellerslie.Stephen McKeeAlysha Collett7Volks Lightning6Classy mare Volks Lightning (NZ) (Volksraad) has recorded three placings at black-type level, including last month's Group 3 Darley Plate (1200m)
at Ellerslie. Also the winner of four races, she was a last-start fifth in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at
Trentham after losing a shoe.Graeme & Debbie RogersonLeith Innes8Smashing11By Pins out of the multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Ruud Van Slaats, Smashing (NZ) has won six races and has placed twice at Listed level. In her most recent start she ran third in the Listed
Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham. Both her trainers (Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards) and jockey (Danielle
Johnson) currently lead the New Zealand premierships.Stephen Autridge & Jamie RichardsDanielle Johnson9Snowdrop7A daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Daffodil, Snowdrop (NZ) (Pins) has won six of her 16 starts and has twice placed at stakes level. Five of her wins have come over this
distance.Tony PikeVinnie Colgan10Bonniegirl14Third in this race last year, Bonniegirl (NZ) (Darci Brahma) represents in the in-form stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. She has won five of her 15
starts, including a five-length victory over this distance at New Plymouth in September. She is coming into this race
fresh, and she has won four races in that state.Murray Baker & Andrew ForsmanMatthew Cameron11Rocanto3A stakes winner and Group 1-placed as a two-year-old, Rocanto (NZ) (Per Incanto) has shown glimpses of that form again in his four-year-old season with a win and a close second
placing among his six starts.Stephen Marsh 12La Fille En Jeu5To be ridden by in-form jockey Lisa Allpress, La Fille En Jeu (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) has won seven races including a smart win over this distance at Otaki two starts back. She was
eighth in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) last time out, but was trapped wide throughout the race.Nigel AuretLisa Allpress13Xcuses Xcuses2Locally trained Xcuses Xcuses (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) has won four races, including a fast-finishing victory over this distance at Awapuni in her
most recent start.John BarySamantha Collett14Thien Ly4To be ridden by jockey Robert Hannam, who rode his 1000th New Zealand winner last weekend, Thien Ly(NZ) (Stravinsky) was a last-start fourth in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m). He has previously won at the track.Jeff LyndsRobert Hannam15Ruby Armani15Makfi mare Ruby Armani (NZ) has won two of her 12 starts, but has competed admirably up to Group 2 level with a close fifth placing in the
Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1400m). She was a last-start third over this distance at Avondale behind stakes
performers Mystery Show and Spindle.Michael Moroney & Pam GerardMark Du Plessis