15 January 2010
Two of the most favoured runners for New Zealand’s richest sprint race, the $1 million Telegraph Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on January 23, were both bred and reared at Hamilton’s Highview Stud.
Highview Connection With Telegraph Favourites
Unbeaten four-year-old sprint sensation Wealth Princess (San Luis x Wealth Star) is currently the third favourite at $6 for the Group 1 Telegraph and on the New Zealand TAB fixed odds market. The current favourite is Australian raider Lucky Secret ($5) while last year’s race winner Mufhasa ($5.50) is the shortest priced New Zealand representative.
Brent Gillovic-trained mare Wealth Princess maintained her perfect record with her fifth win from as many starts to date with an all-inspiring victory in the Listed Newmarket Handicap at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. She was allowed to bypass the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day in favour of heading straight to the Telegraph.
South Island-trained speedster Coup Align (Align x Diamond Snip) is also right among Telegraph hot shots at $7.
Coup Align further enhanced his outstanding racing record when he resumed racing with a demolition job over his rivals at the Waikouaiti meeting on January 1.
This completed a hat-trick of wins for Coup Align and took his tally of wins to nine from 13 starts.
Trainer Michael Pitman said the easy Waikouaiti race win provided the perfect dress rehearsal to the Telegraph for Coup Align who was not extended as he ran he 1250m journey in a time of 1:12.05.
Coup Align was so fast out of the gates at Waikouaiti that he landed a length in front and was five lengths clear of his opposition after only 100m. Rider Lisa Allpress simply had to steer him and never let the brakes off at any stage.
"Rather than pull him round, she (Allpress) let him roll out a bit round the corner," said Pitman.
"She didn't have him off the bit the whole way and she only clicked him up the last bit because he started to shy at a big marquee in the straight."
Pitman said the 4 1/4-length win confirmed his belief that Coup Align had improved since his last-start 1:07.8 annihilation of his Stewards rivals at Riccarton in November.
"His work has been phenomenal in the last few weeks – he's regularly clocking sectionals that no other horse I've trained has done. Even on a wet track, when other horses run 36 or 37, he's been breaking 35."
Pitman said the speed Coup Align showed in training was even more incredible given he didn't ask his horses to work hard. "All three of the jockeys who have ridden him have said he doesn't rip-tear but he hits the ground at 10 to the furlong and they're amazed at how quickly he gets into full stride."
