Dual Group One winner La Crique will bid to add another elite level scalp to her record when she heads to Ellerslie on Boxing Day to tackle the Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m).
The daughter of Vadamos came close to adding a third Group One title to her record at Trentham earlier this month but was denied a neck by Ladies Man in the Mufhasa Classic (1600m).
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander were pleased with her performance but said they could put their finger on the reasons for her short margin defeat.
“There were probably three factors in that race,” Katrina Alexander said. “The wide draw (13) when we had to make a call on what we planned to do, Michael (McNab) rode her exactly as we had discussed. We both said afterwards that we probably wouldn’t have changed that call.
“I think maybe the downfall of her run in particular was that she just didn’t get dragged into the straight for long enough. She got left exposed very early on and he (McNab) had to go.
“I think she got caught out with Ladies Man coming so wide in the field that she didn’t really know he was there. She is normally a mare that picks up on that pretty quickly and you can see her fight and pin her ears back. He may have taken her a little bit by surprise on the day and she possibly thought she had it in the bag and then had to rally again late.
“But she has done her usual and tried really hard to the line all the way through and I really can’t fault the performance.”
Alexander said La Crique has come through the trip well and has enjoyed a couple of days in the paddock to recuperate.
“She has done really well. She has come back from Trentham in pretty good order,” she said. “It was a very firm track down there, so she had a few quiet days following that, just by choice. She is bright in herself.”
It’s been a pleasing preparation to date for La Crique, who was victorious in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last month, and Alexander is hoping she can finish the campaign on a high at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
“This will be her last run for this time in,” Alexander said. “She is gradually fittening up quite nicely.
“I can’t fault her, she is doing very well and in particular copped her trip to Trentham and she is in really good order. She will be boxing on towards Boxing Day.”
Meanwhile, Alexander will head to Te Rapa on Saturday with two in-form chances.
Both Chuckle’s Daughter and Si Exquis have finished runner-up in their last two outings and will be seeking to shed their bridesmaids’ tags in the Nationwide Livestock Mile (1600m) and Lodge Commercial Mile (1600m) respectively.
“Chuckle’s Daughter has been knocking on the door,” Alexander said. “She is fairly light on racing miles for her age, so she is still learning a little bit and we are still trying to get her up to a distance that suits.
“Vinnie (Colgan, jockey) thought after her last run that we keep her at a mile for one last time and hopefully she can pull it off. She is proving to be a very genuine mare and has trained on really well.”
While Chuckle’s Daughter will definitely head to Te Rapa on Saturday, Alexander said stablemate Si Exquis may be saved for another day after drawing barrier 14.
“I think she is going to be very interesting horse for the future. I am just a little concerned about her at this time of the year on the firmer tracks, and she hasn’t drawn particularly well,” she said.
“I see that we have got a little bit of moisture forecast for Saturday. I am happy with the horse in every other respect, she galloped nicely during the week, but I am just mindful of her on the firmer tracks.
“We had an idea of trying to get her to Trentham for the Remutaka Classic ($350,000, 2100m), but whether that is going to work out for her I am not too sure. At this stage, she will remain in the field, and we will see how she goes over the next few days.”