News

With a quinella in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) done and dusted, trainer Pam Gerard is now setting about confirming summer plans for Romanoff and Affirmative Action.

Victory bells have been ringing for Marie Leicester and her family for decades, with Romanoff the latest to hit a Group One note.

The only thing certain as horses slogged their way to the winning post in Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) was that Matamata trainer Pam Gerard would produce the quinella in the Riccarton classic.

Pre-post favourite Affirmative Action will have to overcome a wide gate and a lighter than intended preparation in his shared bid to defend the stable’s title in Saturday’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m).

“He’s a big leggy fella and he didn’t need to be getting tangled up around there."

“Everything’s been good with him in this campaign, apart from the weather."

“When they were pushing me to ride him, I had two phone calls and three people talked to me about him."