Silver lining for Hasahalo in Sistema Stakes
The postponement of the Auckland Racing Club’s big day from Saturday to Thursday night should assist Hasahalo’s chances in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes for two-year-olds over 1200 metres.
With the big wet hitting Auckland over the weekend, three Group 1 races and the Group 2 Westbury Classic will be run on Thursday evening making it one helluva twilight meeting!
While Hasahalo was unknown in the wet, she has an electric turn of foot on a good track and, with fine weather throughout the week, the track should get back to at least a dead reading. She also has a good draw, which is rare in her career to date. While not an on-speed runner, the draw gives her a number of options, which is a nice position for her jockey, Premiership leader Danielle Johnson.
“She has peaked well for the Group 1 and her work this last week has been very pleasing,” says trainer Stephen McKee. “The inside draw may have been a disadvantage on a wet track, so the postponement may work out well for us if it dries out over the next few days.”
Syndicate Manager Albert Bosma is also upbeat. “Group 1 races are hard to win and I didn’t have a lot of confidence when the rain came. Thursday is a different ball game and I am excited to head to Ellerslie for a unique race day. It is a good field and Summer Passage looks like the horse to beat, although you had to be impressed with Ujjayyi’s debut run.”
Go Racing will have a strong chance in one of the supporting races, with last start winner What A Diva racing in the Rating 75 2100 metres. “She is a horse that wants a dead track or better, but is in great form and is a very good stayer in the making,” comments Albert.
The Sistema Stakes is at 5.03pm while What A Diva races at 6.59 pm.