Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Lollapalooza (El Roca) went into Saturday’s Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie as a maiden, but she came out of it as one of the leaders of her generation and the clear favourite for the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
The $150,000 three-year-old fillies’ feature was the El Roca filly’s fourth start. She had finished third on debut at Ellerslie in February behind Lucy In The Sky and Miss Ziggy, then struck bad luck in the straight when eighth in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) in her only other two-year-old start.
Lollapalooza’s three-year-old return hinted at bigger and better things. Coming up against a strong field of three-year-old fillies at Taupo last month, she flew home from the back of the field for a close second behind In Haste.
Saturday’s rematch saw In Haste jump as a $3.40 favourite and Lollapalooza at $5.90, but this time the Taupo result was turned upside down.
Lollapalooza was ridden patiently by Vinnie Colgan, who took her back to last from her wide gate. She appeared to have a mountain to climb from the home turn, looking for a run along the inside and coming up behind a wall of horses.
In the meantime, the stage was set for an all-Te Akau finish as In Haste and Queen’s Evidence edged ahead of Too Sweet coming into the final 150m.
But Colgan had weaved his way through the pack on Lollapalooza, and suddenly she launched a stunning finish from nowhere. She bounded past In Haste and Queen’s Evidence in the last few strides and was three-quarters of a length in front by the finish line.
“I opted to ride her quietly from the wide barrier,” Colgan said. “We haven’t seen them winning out wide so far today, so I stayed towards the inside and just hoped for a bit of luck.
“She was explosive in the straight. I think getting up over more distance will suit her.”
Lollapalooza was bred by Don and Dame Wendy Pye and is out of their Gr.3 Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) winner Carnival. Haunui Farm offered her in Book 2 of Karaka 2024, where Richardson Racing Stables and Social Racing bought her for $30,000.
Trained by Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall for the Social Racing Premier Dynamic Duo Syndicate and the Richardson Racing Carnival Syndicate, Lollapalooza has now had four starts for a win, two placings and $105,000 in stakes.
“We love training good three-year-old fillies, and it was an honour to have three of them in the Gold Trail this year and to win it with Lollapalooza,” Richardson said. “Don and Wendy Pye bred her, and when I went and saw her at Haunui as a yearling, she was a standout from the start. Vinnie gave her a great ride today and we’re thrilled to get the result.”
The TAB reacted to Saturday’s win by cutting Lollapalooza from $14 into $3.20 favouritism for the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 8.
“This is very satisfying,” Norvall said. “There’s been a lot of talk about her. Her sectional times were very, very good last start. For her to come here today and produce a similar performance, we’re really happy.
“She’s doing everything we’ve asked her to do so far. We’ll go one step at a time, we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but this was a great win for her.
“She’s nominated for the Guineas. The way she settles and the way she can come home, a big track like Riccarton should suit her.”
Lollapalooza continued an outstanding start to the spring for the Social Racing Premier Dynamic Duo Syndicate, which also races the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) runner-up Yokozuna.
“Good fillies win this race, and I think we saw another good filly win it today,” Social Racing manager Brent Cooper said. “She may have been a maiden coming into it, but her performance for second last start was outstanding and I was confident.
“There are two syndicates that race this filly. Graham Richardson has a syndicate that includes her breeders, Don and Wendy Pye. It’s great to have them in the ownership alongside our Social Racing syndicate.
“There are a lot of first-time owners in the Social Racing syndicate, and with Yokozuna as well, they’re feeling lucky so far.”
The Gold Trail Stakes was the first leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series. Lollapalooza earned six points with her victory, while In Haste picked up three points and Queen’s Evidence earned one and a half.
