Con Grazia Love upsets in Oaks

Con Grazia Love (Love You) announced her arrival on the big stage when she impressively won the $100,000 Group One ‘What The Hill’ Woodlands New Zealand Trotting Oaks tonight (Nov. 25) at Addington – the home of harness racing in the south.

It was a typically aggressive drive by northern reinsman Maurice McKendry. For most of the trip McKendry had the filly in the outside running line with favourite Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy) making the pace.

When Ti Amo Belle (Love You) started to make her run three wide inside the last 800 metres, McKendry went out in front of her. At the 600 Con Grazia Love was eyeballing Hidden Talent and the two went to war. Down the straight Con Grazia Love was just too good and beat the favourite by a length. The time of 2-25.5 was just outside Wanna Play With Me’s New Zealand record of 2-24.7.

“I thought it was a great run. With the favourites out in front down the back I thought we were in trouble, but I knew he’d (McKendry) pull out and have a go because she’s such a good stayer. When she rolled round turning for home, I thought she’d run third. Then halfway down she just said I’m better than you and that was it,” trainer Sean McCaffrey said.

CON GAZIA LOVE REPLAY

He confirmed the next target will be the Group One $100,000 New Zealand Trotting Derby on Grand Prix Day.

“We were always going to go there as long as she went good enough. I don’t think fillies are that inferior in the trotting ranks. On tonight’s run she went about the same time as them (colts and geldings). They’re two very good geldings, the one’s that finished first and second tonight (Highgrove and Hot To Trot). If we got a run from behind them we’d be quite happy.”

McCaffery said Con Grazia Love has been pretty straight forward to prepare and get to the races. 

“She was always a little bit light framed. We gave her a run as a two year old and she did a bit wrong, so we tipped her out. She qualified and at her third start in a 2700 metre race Maurice went round and sat parked and she won with a leg in the air and told me she was a great stayer.”

Those qualities were certainly on show tonight and 2600 metres of the Derby will suit Con Grazia Love.

It’s a family that McCaffrey has had a lot to do with throughout his career.

He trained Con Grazia Love’s mother Con Grazia (Majestic Son) to win one of her six starts. Her mother Chiola’s Lass won ten races including four as a two year old. Also trained by McCaffrey, as a broodmare Chiola’s Lass has left Skyvalley (24 wins), Allegro Agitato (22) and Cabeletto (7).

Tonight’s Group One win was McCaffrey’s third and her first in the South Island. Sovereignty won the 2008 Northern Trotting Derby and the 2010 National Trot. All three have been driven by McKendry.

The filly has a host of owners including Jonny Taylor who bred her, and Hope Trebes who is one of the main track riders for Andrew Forsman.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink