Darryn and Briar Weatherley are under no illusions about the holiday task ahead of Buglari but are confident the three-year-old is up to making a strong impression.
Promising two-year-old Ka Ron was unfortunate not to have made the perfect start to his career and will have the opportunity on Boxing Day to make amends.
Graham Richardson and Rogal Norvall’s star filly Lollapalooza is set to be joined in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day by her rapidly emerging stablemate Fleeting Star.
Waitak was a class above his rivals in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, completing a spring Group One double in the early stages of what might be a career-defining season.
If Stephen Marsh thought his day couldn’t get any better after winning the first three races on the card at Ellerslie on Saturday, he had to revise those thoughts pretty quickly after the running of the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Sakes (1400m).
Ellerslie has been the scene of some of El Vencedor’s most memorable performances, and Saturday’s Livamol Classic could see the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year become only the second horse to win four Group One races at the Auckland track.
Ultra-consistent mare La Crique earned a unique place in New Zealand racing history at Ellerslie on Saturday with her seventh runner-up finish in a Group One race.
Sunday’s Kingmakers Syndication (2200m) at Ellerslie was Ata Rangi’s first raceday appearance in 204 days, but the versatile nine-year-old brought his A-game to Auckland and resumed on a winning note.
