Waikato Stud Convinced Filly Is Up To NZB Kiwi Task

Waikato Stud’s private trainer Kris Shailer has had a whirlwind last few months, and that is set to continue at Ellerslie on Champions Day when he lines up homebred filly Convinced (NZ) (Super Seth) in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m).

Shailer has had four wins from six starts this season, including victory in the Group Three Matamata Slipper (1200m) a fortnight ago with Justin Case (NZ) (Banquo), and he is hoping his golden run continues.

Justin Case is set to step up to elite-level at Ellerslie next Saturday in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m), while Convinced will represent Waikato Stud’s slot in the NZB Kiwi.

Bred and raced by Garry Chittick, Convinced is by the farm’s former stallion Super Seth, who has recently been sold to Coolmore for a landmark figure, and is out of Group Two winner The Real Beel (NZ) (Savabeel).

Convinced won on debut for Shailer last month at Matamata over 1200m before running eighth in last weekend’s Group Three Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, doing enough to get the green light for the NZB Kiwi.

“It was a good debut win in a mid-week maiden and then we threw her in the deep end in the Uncle Remus, with the NZB Kiwi in mind, to have a look around Ellerslie,” Shailer said.

“It was a good run. She got a little bit lost, being new up there, but we were happy.”

Shailer said he is thrilled to be representing his employer in the NZB Kiwi and he is hoping his filly can repay their faith.

“It is very exciting,” Shailer said. “She was bred on farm and is trained on farm. 

“We are under no illusion that we are throwing her in the deep end, but it is not every day that you get to run around for $4 million.”

Shailer is also looking forward to testing his filly over 1500m for the first time.

“The Uncle Remus was a month between runs, and that was 1400m, and she probably felt the pinch a little bit late,” he said. “Two weeks between runs (into the NZB Kiwi), it’s (1500m) a query, but everyone has got to do it.”

Jockey Samantha Collett rode Convinced in the Uncle Remus Stakes, and she has elected to stick with the filly for the NZB Kiwi.

She will also ride Justin Case in the Sistema Stakes, and Shailer said he has progressed well since his last start Group Three win.

“He has come through Matamata well, he looks great and you can hardly get his head out of the feed bin. I am really happy with him,” Shailer said.

“He has only beaten two four-horse fields but that is not his fault, he can only beat what he is up against. Back on a Good track will be very interesting.”

Shailer has just two members in his current race team and he is excited to take them both to compete on one of New Zealand’s biggest days on the racing calendar.

“It’s the biggest day on the calendar and it’s exciting for everybody, the whole farm included,” he said.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing