On the Cups Trail

1st September 2008

Two horses with definite Cups aspirations kicked their campaigns off with wins at the weekend with New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless scoring at Tauranga in her homeland and Melbourne Cup winner Efficient’s half-brother Guillotine successful at Cheltenham.

Considered disappointing in the autumn when campaigned towards the Group One AJC Australian Derby in which he ran fifth, Guillotine (4h Montjeu x Refused the Dance, by Defensive Play) has had a change of trainer and been transferred from David Payne to David Hayes in a bid realise his potential.

Sent out favourite in a Ratings 91 event over 1300 metres, he cruised home to win by a length and half under 58kg and will doubtless make his way across to Melbourne now.

Purchased for $300,000 by part-owner Les Samba from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2006 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Guillotine is by Montjeu from stakes-placed Defensive Play mare Refused the Dance.

Not seen since an unlucky half neck second to Heavenly Glow in the Group One AJC Australian Oaks, the Steven McKee trained Boundless (4m Van Nistelrooy x Nothing Less, by Star Way) kick-started her preparation with a long neck win in a 1200 metre open event at Tauranga on Saturday.

An $80,000 purchase from the 2006 NZB Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Trelawney Stud, Boundless is raced by a group of four people including Trevor McKee who selected and bought the filly.

With five wins from 14 starts and prizemoney of $417,122, Boundless is one of two Group One winners for the young Storm Cat sire Van Nistelrooy.

Boundless is stoutly bred on her dam’s side being from the Star Way mare Nothing Less, a half-sister to stakes-winners Zero Limit and Twinkling from dour staying mare Limitless, winner of the Group One QTC Brisbane Cup over two miles.

Nothing Less has done a great job at stud producing seven winners including three other stakes- placed horses in Nothing Lika Tango, Our Tango and Purrfection.