By Heather Anderson
El Soldado (NZ)(Colombia {NZ}) is aiming for back-to-back NZ$500,000 G1 Barfoot & Thomson Auckland Cups at Ellerslie Saturday. Winless since his March triumph in five subsequent runs, his best finish was a fourth, with $6.00 favourite Chenille (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) taking runner-up honours, in the 2100-metre Horsevets H. over this course Jan. 14. El Soldado returned to the winner's circle two starts later, setting the pace and holding off $7.00 second choice Megablast (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) by a neck and 2016 G2 Wellington Cup hero Mister Impatience (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) in the 2400-metre G2 Avondale Cup Feb. 18.
Successful in the Listed Hawke's Bay Gold Cup at Hastings last April, the Tony Pike-trained Chenille has been out of the top two only once in her last four starts, with two wins to show for her 2017 campaign. On top in the 2200m Karaka Stayers Cup at Ellerslie Jan. 29, she plugged on to take seventh in the Feb. 18 Avondale Cup to El Soldado, but rebounded to prevail in the Buffalo & Co Nathans Memorial H. locally Mar. 4.
Joint second-choice Jacksstar (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) earned a Group 3 victory in the Manawatu Cup at Awapuni Dec. 18, before rolling a pair of twos in the Listed Gallagher Marton Cup over 2200m and failing by just a nose going this trip, one better than MGSW Perfect Start (NZ) (Perfectly Ready {Aus}) and two better than 2016 G1 New Zealand Oaks heroine Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) in the G3 Wellington Cup at Trentham Jan. 21. The 5-year-old gelding rallied to take sixth in the Avondale Cup most recently Feb. 18.
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