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Wood taking positive approach to Auckland Guineas challenge
Dennis Ryan, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • December 23rd, 2025 2:30 pm
Bonecrusher Stakes winner That's Gold heads Cambridge trainer Chris Wood's team for Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Photo | Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Chris Wood acknowledges his emerging three-year-old That’s Gold will have a fight on his hands in the Gr. 2 Jimmy Schick Shaw’s Auckland Guineas (1400m), but he’s still taking a positive approach to the Boxing Day challenge.
The Ellerslie feature is dominated by unbeaten filly Well Written, who heads the TAB final field market at $1.35 with course specialist Affirmative Action at $4.20, while That’s Gold, chasing a hat-trick after his last-start win in the Gr. 3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), is the $16 fourth favourite.
“This is pretty much a benchmark race up against horses like Well Written and Affirmative Action, but I’m happy to see him there,” Wood said on Tuesday.
“I’ve always liked him, he’s one of those horses you hang your hat on and I expected him to win a race at two, but he had a good break and came out and won his maiden then stepped up and won the Bonecrusher.
“I always knew he had something under the bonnet and it’s very satisfying when a horse that you rate delivers.”
While Wood is realistic about the winning chances of That’s Gold, the $270,000 stake on offer in the Auckland Guineas is still very attractive.
“Even allowing for the two standouts, I’m surprised it’s only an eight-horse field with such a good stake that pays decent money past the main placings.
“Mind you, you could say the same about some of the other races on the card. Take the Pearl Series race with just seven starters for 90 grand – I know if I had a mare I thought was good enough she’d be there.”
Beyond this assignment, Wood will have to explore his options with That’s Gold, who being Australian-bred and purchased, is ineligible for the Karaka Millions 3YO and NZB Kiwi.
“I got Paul Moroney to find me a nice yearling in Melbourne and he came up with this guy at a typical P Moroney bargain price, around $57,000 from memory.
“Once again Paul has proven what a good judge of a horse he is.”
That’s Gold has yet to win past 1400m, but his trainer is keeping an open mind as to his future over longer distances, with the long-term option the Gr. 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on the same Ellerslie programme as the NZB Kiwi in March.
“He’s got a sprinter’s pedigree, but the way he relaxes and finishes his races off, I can’t see why he wouldn’t run a trip, so the idea heading into the New Year will be to press on as far as I can with him.”
Interestingly from a pedigree perspective, Boxing Day will mark the 39th anniversary of the New Zealand Derby win by Tidal Light, who features as That’s Gold’s fifth dam.
From unraced maiden as a spring three-year-old, the Jim Gibbs and Roger James-trained filly swept all before her – bar second place in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas – capped by victory in the Ellerslie classic, which back in 1986 was contested on Boxing Day.
In the autumn she downed the country’s best weight-for-age horses in the Gr. 1 Air New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie and added the Gr. 1 Canterbury Guineas (2000m) in Sydney, after which she claimed the New Zealand Horse of the Year title.
“I was aware that Tidal Light figured in my horse’s pedigree and it’s interesting that she performed well at shorter distances before stepping up over ground, so that’s further food for thought,” Wood said.
The Cambridge trainer, who transitioned from successful jumps jockey to training in the late 1980s, has a notable milestone beckoning, with his tally of New Zealand wins standing at 498.
“I also trained close to 80 winners when I had a stable in Australia but it would be special to get to 500 in New Zealand, especially when I’ve never had a big team” he said.
As well as That’s Gold, other Wood-trained prospects with the potential to aid the cause over the holiday racing period include Emmy Dazzler and What A Yarn in support races on Boxing Day, along with You Say D’Orsay and Watch Me Go at Taupo on Sunday.
New Zealand Cup placegetter Canheroc is also penciled in for the Gr. 3 Queen Elizabeth ll Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
