1 Mar 2012
Shaune Ritchie is keeping his options open as he searches for a suitable race day option for the talented Dick Karreman-owned Zabeel filly Zurella.
Top of his list is the $750,000 Telecom Derby-Gr.1 (2400m) at Ellerslie tomorrow, but with a huge storm predicted to hit the North Island of New Zealand during Saturday, Ritchie has also looked further afield for options for Zurella who is not happy on a rain-affected track.
Zurella is amongst acceptors for tomorrow’s Lowland Stakes-Gr.3 (2100m) at Hastings and Ritchie has also put in a nomination for next Wednesday’s Sunline Vase-LR (2100m) at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup day.
Zurella (Zabeel ex Doneze Girl, by Volksraad) has been the races on 6 occasions and won 4 of those outings including the Manawatu Eulogy Stakes-Gr.3 (1600m) and the Waikato Sir Tristram Fillies Classic-Gr.2 (2000m).
The filly’s only unplaced effort was when fifth of six in the Royal Stakes-Gr.2 (2000m) on a slow track on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie.