Group One winner La Crique will make her return to racing this Saturday on New Zealand racing's biggest stage, the Karaka Millions twilight meeting.
The five-year-old mare's spring preparation was cut short due to foot issues following her third placing in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) behind Legarto in October, and trainers Katrina and Simon Alexander are pleased to have her back in top order ahead of her resuming run in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m).
The daughter of Vadamos readied for her first hit-out of the year with a pleasing trial win over 1100m at Tauranga last week, bringing a smile to the faces of her trainers after a frustrating period.
“We have had a few issues along the way that have cut short her prep earlier in the season,” Katrina Alexander said. “With the wet springs over the last two years, we have battled with foot issues and they have just taken a while to resolve. Finally, it has all slotted into place and she is a lot happier horse.
“I was very happy with the trial. It was nice to see her get out and enjoy herself and trial in a fashion that we are used to seeing her doing – keen to get out of the barrier, roll along nicely, and using herself well in the final stages.
“That was what we needed to see from her and that has allowed us to progress on to this weekend.”
Alexander is particularly looking forward to having her first runner compete on Karaka Millions night and testing out the new StrathAyr track at Ellerslie.
“It is straight back into the big dance and it will be a huge atmosphere I am imagining. I haven't been to a Karaka Million night before,” she said.
“I am just looking forward to seeing her step out on the new Ellerslie surface and see how she performs on that. It is a consistent surface so I am sure she will really enjoy it.
“We are going to be a little on the backfoot compared to some other horses that have a few runs under their belt, but she is a horse that goes nicely fresh, and I am happy with where she is at.”
The Alexanders aren't getting too far ahead of themselves with their mare this preparation and haven't set a plan in concrete at this stage.
“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster as we have gone along. We are taking it one race at a time with her at this stage, there is no defined plan after Saturday, we will just see how she comes through that run and go from there,” Alexander said.