Wildflower (NZ) (Keeper {Aus}) was 5 1/2 lengths behind Lizzie L'Amour (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) when second in the 2000-metre Herbie Dyke S. on Feb. 10, but an equal margin in front of the rest of her foes and she returns in the NZ$500,000 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday. Victorious in the Listed Jakkalberry Classic at Arawa Park on Oct. 21, the Graham Richardson trainee was runner-up to Zacada (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and one better than GSW Five to Midnight (NZ) (Domesday {Aus}) in the G2 City of Auckland Cup three back on Jan. 1. The bay was fourth in the 2400-metre G3 Auckland Cup here on Jan. 27 in the wake of MGSW Charles Road (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Five to Midnight and Comin'through (NZ) (Bullbars {Aus}) and is stepping up to 3200 metres for the first time.
Some international flavour is added to the Auckland Cup mix in the form of Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard trainee Araldo Junior (Ger) (Medicean {GB}). The well-traveled German-bred scooped the Listed Queensland Cup over this trip in Oz last July and made an encouraging start to his New Zealand sojourn with a third to SW & GSP Kaharau (Aus) (Ad Valorem) and Mar. 3 handicap victor and MSW Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in a 2400-metre handicap at Ellerslie on Feb. 17.
“I'm really happy with him and he's settled in very well since coming over from Melbourne,” said Gerard, whose charge acts on any ground, to The Informant. “He got home strongly last time out and his work since has been super.”
G3 Wellington Cup one-two Magic Chai (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}) and Sampson (NZ) (Dubai Destination) were separated by less than a half-length after that 3200m journey on Jan. 20 and could also have a say in the outcome.
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