Almanzor mare makes Cup statement

Ahuriri has put forward a compelling argument for a trip away following her return to winning form in trying conditions at Canterbury Park.

The stakes-winning daughter of Almanzor came from the back of the field in the hands of Nash Rawiller for a second-up success over 1900 metres on a Heavy 9 surface.

“It was a matter of getting ger back in form, her last win was in the St Leger (Listed, 2800m),” trainer Chris Waller said.

“She certainly stays so maybe we’ll look at a race like the Brisbane Cup (G2, 3200m) for her.”

Ahuriri drifted well back in the running before she was urged forward across the top and the four-year-old produced a sustained finish to score by a comfortable three-quarters of a length.

“It was a nice ride by Nash, he kept the momentum up from the 600m mark,” Waller said.

Ahuriri was bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax and offered through their Blandford Lodge draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka where she was bought by daughter Kylie with Waller Racing for $210,000.

She is out of the Darci Brahma mare Mackenzie Kate, who is back in foal to Almanzor, and she is a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina and the family of dual top-flight winner Danzdanzdance.

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