Peace talks up NZ Oaks

BY JOHN JENKINS AT TRENTHAM

Cambridge trainer Shaune Ritchie's huge opinion of Keep The Peace reached new heights after her game win in yesterday's $300,000 New Zealand Oaks and he is now keen to pit her against the best Australians.

Ritchie won the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie three weeks ago with Military Move and also took out the New Zealand Cup with My Scotsgrey, but rates Keep The Peace better than both of them.

"This is a fantastic filly," an elated Ritchie said, after Keep The Peace had clung on to win yesterday's 2400-metre Oaks in a close three-horse finish.

"She's probably the best horse I've trained and I say that after just having trained a derby winner." The win provided Ritchie with a great birthday gift as he turned 40 last Wednesday.

He is now planning a hit-and-run attempt at the $A350,000 AJC Oaks (2400m), in Sydney on April 17, with Keep The Peace.

"We've seen that she definitely runs a mile and a half out so we might as well have a go," Ritchie said. Keep The Peace was recording her fourth win from just eight starts and was completing a feature double at Trentham after taking out the Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) in January.

The Keeper filly is owned by former champion Australian jockey Mick Dittman and his son Luke, along with Gold Coast-based Paul Bellingham, and her win yesterday took her stake earnings to $300,950.

The win capped a big day for connections as Jasminka, a horse raced by Mick Dittman and Bellingham's wife Belinda, also won a race in Brisbane just 20 minutes before Keep The Peace took out the oaks.

Cambridge-based Jason Waddell has been Keep The Peace's regular rider throughout the season, but is suspended, and had to watch yesterday as Opie Bosson got the filly home by a short head from November Rain, with Zarzuela a half-head back in third place.

Bosson was able to quickly overcome a wide draw on Keep The Peace, getting her across and positioned perfectly in the running. He feared he may have got to the front too soon when the filly shot clear at the top of the home straight.

"I was a sitting duck there for a while and she was taking light steps towards the finish but luckily we held on," Bosson said. November Rain's rider, Michael Walker, thought his mount had got up in the last stride and said, had he ridden the filly before, the result might have been different.

"She was hesitant with horses around her and if I'd known that I would have got her out in the clear sooner," Walker said.

James McDonald said race-favourite Zarzuela had every chance. She got a good run midfield on the inner and was momentarily held up on the home turn, taking a long time to wind up.

RAIN ON the day ruined any chance Palmerston North trainer Jeff Lynds had of winning the Doncaster Handicap in Sydney 15 years ago but he won't mind what the track conditions are like when he takes Wall Street across the Tasman for next month's $A1.5m race.

Wall Street confirmed his trip to Sydney with another dominant win in yesterday's $70,000 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths on a good track. He also won the Thorndon Mile at Trentham in January on a firm surface, while three of his other six wins have been on dead and slow tracks.

Lynds won the Thompson Handicap 15 years ago with Marconee and took him across the Tasman for a crack at that year's Doncaster.

"But it rained on the day and that ended his chances," Lynds said.

"He finished fifth or sixth and led at one stage in the straight but slipped in the wet.

"He was hopeless in the wet but we've got a wet and dry track horse to take this time," Lynds said.

He said Wall Street will not race again until the Doncaster on April 17.

Lynds also confirmed a Sydney trip for Vosne Romanee, where the horse will contest the weight-for-age Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while there is also a chance Booming could join his stablemates on the trip.

Wall Street was a clear leader early in the home straight and, despite starting to loaf in the final stages, he never looked like being caught.

"I went a bit soon on him and probably should have counted to 10 but he was always going to win," rider Opie Bosson said.

Cassini was a game second, fighting back to take that place off All In Tempo after that horse clearly headed her.

Sir Slick, who disputed a fast pace early with Bruce Almighty, battled on to get fourth, with the well-supported Pinot Girl best of the others.

IT WAS a case of deja vu for Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee, when Mr Charlie demolished his rivals with a 6 1/4 length victory in yesterday's listed New Zealand St Leger.

McKee was training in partnership with his father Trevor when they produced Interval to bolt in by six lengths in the same 2500-metre event 13 years ago.

"Interval went on after that and won the St Leger in Sydney but it might be a bit soon to try the same with this horse," McKee said. Mr Charlie, who is a four-year-old entire, is still a 12 months away from reaching his peak and won't be pressured.

McKee said he would like to aim Mr Charlie at a race like the Wellington Cup (2400m) at Trentham in January.

- © Fairfax NZ News