By Heather Anderson
The top three finishers of the Jan. 1 G1 Sistema Railway S. return in the NZ$250,000 JR & N Berkett Telegraph at Trentham Saturday. Start Wondering (NZ) (Eighth Wonder {NZ}), who came out on top from Saturday's favorite Perfect Fit (NZ) (Elusive City) and third-place finisher GSW Reilly Lincoln (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in that 1200-metre feature, is on the hunt for a rare sprinting double. Although that was his initial attempt in top-level company, the gelding, who also won the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint earlier in November, appears primed for a big effort and is the 6-1 second choice for the Jan. 20 feature.
Fleet mare Perfect Fit, who is the pick at 3-1 on the morning line after pre-entry favorite Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) was withdrawn, won the G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders S. this past April, but dropped to 10th in the G2 Mirvac Qtc Cup at Eagle Farm across the Tasman June 11 in her final start that preparation. Third in the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl going 1100 metres at Pukekohe Nov. 19, the brown mare was only 1 1/4 lengths behind Start Wondering last out on New Year's Day. She also carries five pounds less than that rival, who shares top weight with 2016 Telegraph hero Adventador (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous {Aus}) at 128.
Aussie invader Odyssey Moon (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), a winner most recently of Flemington's G3 Standish H. Jan. 1, hope to add a first Group 1 tally to his ledger. The Robert Smerdon trainee earned a Group 1 placing when second in the G1 Inglis Sires Produce S. at Randwick in 2015.
“It's been a race that has been in the back of our minds since he came back so well and then he won the Standish,” James Harron, who manages Odyssey Moon for owner Belinda Bateman, told www.nz.racing.com. “If he is successful, then we would be very interested in talking to any farms in New Zealand who might be keen.”
With Xtravagant out of the picture, the G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce heroine Luna Rossa (NZ) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) takes her place in the line up. Coming off an 11-week spell, the chestnut is weighted at only 116 pounds and landed a 935-metre barrier trial at Te Rapa Jan. 10. First Serve (NZ) (Swiss Ace {Aus}), a winner of the G3 Canterbury Breeders S. Nov. 9, enters on the back of a 4 1/2-length romp in a handicap at Waikouaiti, also on the first of the year.
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