Boundless bounces back

BY PHILLIP QUAY

REJUVENATED MARE Boundless turned a spring of heartbreak into joy, completing a Group Two feature double for trainer Stephen McKee and jockey Leith Innes with her lethal win in the $125,000 DHL Counties Cup, at Pukekohe.

McKee and Innes also combined in magic style two races earlier with Culminate to win the day's other Group Two event, the $110,000 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes.

Ardmore-based McKee admitted it had been far from plain sailing earlier this season for 2008 New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless, who produced a series of below-par performances.

"There were stallions being tossed around and thoughts of her being retired to stud not all that long ago," McKee said.

"She's had serious problems with her back and every time a jockey hopped on her she seemed to feel uncomfortable," he said.

"We have tried a number of things and some chiropractor treatment seemed to help a lot, as well as just racing her way out of it."

Boundless showed her first glimpse of improved form with a confidence-boosting win in weight-for-age company at Ellerslie at her previous start on November 3, and McKee said she had improved a lot since that run.

"We went into today's race with the most confidence we have had for a long time and she didn't let us down. Leith [Innes] gave her a lovely trip – it was a 10 out of 10 ride from him."

Boundless settled beautifully behind the leaders and charged to the lead in the home straight, before withstanding a late surge from Fiorano, who got within a neck at the post.

McKee said yesterday's win opened up many options.

"One thing is for sure – she won't be retired to stud this year. That can wait.

"There are a lot of cup races now that we can look at. There is the Avondale Cup and the Waikato Cup and later on the Wellington and Auckland Cups. Another race which is suitable for her is the Zabeel Classic at Christmas time."

The Van Nistelrooy five-year-old is owned by McKee's father, retired champion trainer Trevor McKee, with Neil Miller, Cherry Taylor and Paul Dallimore. She has won seven times from 25 starts for earnings of $621,147.

Co-trainer Roger James was delighted with the effort of Fiorano, who was in front a stride or two past the post. He raced in tight quarters during the race but, once clear, motored home.

James has Fiorano set for the Avondale Gold Cup (2200m) on December 2.

THE RAILWAY Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day is the next target for beach-trained Richard Beymer, who overcame his topweight of 58.5kg and posted an excellent, albeit narrow, win over Accardo in the $60,000 Counties Bowl (1100m).

Trained by Jakki Good at Waiuku, and ridden by Kate Hercock, Richard Beymer scored the 11th win of his career in the Listed race. The Volksraad six-year-old is owned by Clyde Buckingham, who formerly raced top galloper Ebony Grosve.

KARAKA STUDMASTER David Moore hopes he will one day have a horse as good as yesterday's Group Two $110,000 NRM/Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner Culminate in his own racing stable.

Stephen McKee trains Culminate and will do so for the rest of her racing days, but in the near future some of the horses bred at the Moore family's famous Soliloquy Lodge property at Karaka will be trained by David Moore.

Soliloquy Lodge has already decided its 10 yearlings for the Karaka sales in February will be included in the Haunui Farm draft as it moves out of the ranks of sale vendors. This follow's Moore's decision to focus instead on pre-training and eventually training his own team.

"I have become more passionate about training horses rather than being a sales vendor," Moore said.

"I have been assisting Sally [Gillespie, trainer] with one of our horses, Agamemnon, and that has really given me a taste for it."

Culminate's gutsy win in the 1400m feature saw her turn the tables on Ruud Van Slaats, who had beaten her home last year.

The win was all the more special for Moore as he is the president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association which co-sponsors the feature.

EVERBRIGHT, WHO won the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup in Hong Kong for the last two years, made a successful return to New Zealand racing in the Franklin Long Roofing Ltd 1600.

Matamata trainer Andrew Scott said a lack of staying opportunities in Hong Kong prompted the return of the seven-year-old.

Everbright will be aimed at the Auckland and Sydney Cups.

PROMISING CAMBRIDGE four-year-old Jungle Boots had to be put down after breaking his leg and crashing into the running rail 200 metres after the start of the Terry Ryan Timber Ltd 1600.

MATAMATA TRAINER John Sargent confirmed the Waikato Times Gold Cup (2400m) at Te Rapa on December 12 will be the next assignment for exciting staying mare Passchendaele, after she romped home for an easy win over 2400m.

The Montjeu four-year-old mare has won three of her four starts this season and Sargent holds her in high regard.

"She is a cups horse in the making."

- © Fairfax NZ News