Derby champ, Oaks heroine must topple Hastings’ toughest veterans

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Reputations are on the line at Hastings this weekend as the cream of the three-year-old generation take on the best of the older horses in two valuable stakes contests.

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This year’s B.C. Derby winner Rondelito faces five older male rivals in the $50,000 Fall Classic over a mile-and-three-eighths, while the fillies Zenari and Someday Lady, first and third in last month’s incident-packed Oaks, must contend with the four-year-old superstar Avana if either is to land the $50,000 Harbourview Stake over a mile-and-an-eighth.

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It won’t be easy for the sophomores.

They may have been growing and maturing throughout the year, and the gap between three- and four-year-olds traditionally narrows toward the autumn, but the older horses remain tough, seasoned veterans. They will not give way easily. Trainer Barbara Heads, who saddles six-year-old Apprehend and eight-year-old At Attention in the Fall Classic, is not overly concerned by having to face this year’s Derby winner with her two veterans, but won’t be underestimating him, either.

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“You should never disregard a three-year-old when they’re on their game at this time of the year,” Heads said this week. “Especially one as outstanding at Rondelito.”

Rondelito has been a revelation this season. Considered very much the understudy to the barn’s leading man, Mount Doom, he progressed rapidly through the ranks after notching his first career win in May and lines up on Saturday looking for his fifth straight stakes title. Victory over the older brigade would shove the B.C.-bred centre stage in the horse-of-the-year conversation.

“Three-year-olds at this time of year, it’s perfectly fine to be running against older horses,” Rondelito’s trainer Steve Henson said. “I think he’s the best three-year-old on the grounds and there’s nowhere else to run him. Would I like to run against three-year-olds again? Sure, I would. But, you know, he deserves a shot at the big boys.”

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While race fans eagerly anticipate the opportunity to compare the best of the generations at this time of the year, for the trainers it’s simply a question of running where the opportunities best occur.

“It’s the last kick of the can,” admits Pat Jarvis, who saddles her Oaks winner Zenari against the mighty Avana. “We’d obviously like to keep our three-year-olds in the same age group but there aren’t any other opportunities at this stage of the season.”

“I like the extra distance for Zenari but it’s definitely going to be tougher for her,” Jarvis, who also runs Diocles in the Fall Classic, revealed.

“Tougher” may be putting it mildly. If either three-year-old filly is to prevail on Saturday, they will first have to see off the year senior Avana, a filly whose ability leaves her trainer Barbara Heads, “lost for words,” and who will be looking to continue her total domination of the division with a fifth consecutive stakes victory of a remarkable season.

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Heads asked: “How do you knock a filly like her that’s done what she’s done? Last time just amazed me that she could recover off of such a slow pace. Her ability, I’m just lost for words. She’s amazing.”

More generally, Heads also believes the race distances and autumn conditions play as much of apart as the relative ages of the horses.

“The mile-and-three-eighths for the boys is different and we don’t run many of those, although I know my two will be fine so that’s one less thing to worry about,” Heads said. “Some horses flourish on getting that moisture in the track at this time of the year and, for some, that doesn’t make a difference. But it’s not just about the age difference.”

As usual with horse racing, there remain more questions than answers but, come Saturday evening, fans will know whether the old guard still rules the roost or has been toppled by the impertinence of youth.

Hastings selections:

Saturday, Oct. 4, First race: 2:30 p.m.

Race 2. Genie’s Ride can continue his trainer’s domination of the juvenile division by delivering on the promise he’s shown in his two previous starts.

Race 5. Apprehend won the equivalent race last season and, according to his trainer, is showing signs of being back to his best.

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