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New Zealand Racing News
Saturday, April 01 2017

Stablemates Tavidream and Qiji Phoenix have boosted their Australian travelling funds with impressive displays at Ellerslie.

Tavidream - Trish Dunell

The former gave age and weight and a beating to his Rating 75 rivals when he triumphed in Saturday's Barfoot & Thompson 1600 while Qiji Phoenix remained unbeaten after waltzing away with the Ellerslie Jewellers & Engravers 1300.

"Tavidream's very good and he did that pretty comfortably," said Donna Logan, who trains the pair at Ruakaka with Chris Gibbs. "He could either go to Sydney or we'll wait for Brisbane."

The Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate at Randwick on April 15 is the first option that Tavidream's connections will consider for the three-year-old son of Tavistock.

Ridden by Alysha Collett, the gelding sat outside the leader before he took over 250 metres from home and made light of his 59kg to forge clear.

Thatsforsure was a length and a quarter back in second ahead of Sacred Shot, who was doing his best work late after an awkward beginning.

Qiji Phoenix set himself up for an early crack at black type when he was untested to keep hold of his perfect record.

Rider Leith Innes allowed the colt, who is raced by Chinese businessman Fudong Niu, to stride to the front and coasted home by a length and a half from Weather With You.

"He's the real deal this bloke," Logan said. "He'll run in the Champagne Stakes next and then we'll seriously look at the Group One in Brisbane for him."

She was referring to the J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 10, a race won last season by the Tony Pike-trained Sacred Elixir.

Posted by: Racing Desk AT 10:18 am   |  Permalink   |  Email
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