Oaks-bound filly Leica Lucy will have her first taste of Group racing at Trentham on Saturday, taking her place in the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m).
Robbie Patterson, who trains Leica Lucy at New Plymouth, identified right from her debut success that the middle-distance of the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) would be the perfect fit. The filly showed she has plenty of short-range talent to work with before the $1 million feature in March, going down a head to Wingman over 1400m at Trentham a fortnight ago.
“She’s come through that run very well, she never lifts her head out of the feed bin and was the same after she raced,” Patterson said.
“She’s going to love a mile, any easing of the track will be in her favour as well and the further she goes, the better I think she’ll be. She’s a lovely horse, she jumps, puts herself into the race and tries hard. We’re up a grade again on Saturday, but I think she’ll be up to the task.
“We’ll just keep stepping her up in trip, I don’t want to overtax her going into the Oaks because she’s a very straightforward and clean-winded horse.”
The daughter of Derryn is the youngest of Patterson’s stakes representatives at Trentham, with The Underbelly taking on the Gr.3 Humphries Construction Manawatu Cup (2300m), and Puntura and Conor O’Ceirin both engaged in the Gr.2 Bramco Granite and Marble Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).
The Underbelly was a rising star in the staying ranks last term and after returning well in a couple of starts, Patterson has his sights set on the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation And Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) next month for the son of The Bold One.
“It was a good run at Wanganui, he’d had quite a bit of time between races after going fresh-up into a mile then missing the race in between,” he said.
“Naturally, he just blew out a little bit in the finish, but he’s going to improve from this run again with the Wellington Cup as his main goal. He’ll go a nice race on Saturday, then into the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.3, 2400m), then onto the Cup.
“I’m expecting a good run, he may still be a fraction short of his fitness levels, but he can go a bold race.”
Patterson was admittedly surprised with the fourth-placed effort of Puntura in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m), a pleasing return to form after a slow start to his preparation. The Vespa gelding has often put his best foot forward at the Upper Hutt track, winning the Manawatu Challenge Stakes last year before going on to win the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m).
“He surprised me a little bit in the Group One, I thought he may be on his last legs,” Patterson said.
“I think the trick is riding him a bit colder, which was hard to do fresh-up over a mile and Mereana (Hudson, jockey) did a fantastic job doing that. It’ll be the same again on Saturday, we’ll try to ride him cold in behind the speed and get over the top of them we hope.
“He’s come through the race very well, I can’t fault him. He’s going as well as he could be.”
Regular rider Craig Grylls will take the reins about Puntura in the feature, while fellow stable stalwart Conor O’Ceirin has the services of Joe Doyle, fresh off an impressive first-up victory at the course on Mufhasa Classic Day.
“He had been working and jumping out nicely, his form tapered right off last prep so I gave him a good break and he’s come back well,” Patterson said.
“He looks like he may be better off when he’s really fresh and the two-week back-up may be a bit tricky for him, as well as going up a grade, but he’ll roll forward and be in the race for a fair way I think.”
On the undercard, consistent mare Belladonna Lily will step-up in distance in the Japac Homes 1600, with the short back-up from last Sunday being Patterson’s only query.
“I don’t normally back her up but she came through the race really well,” he said.
“Any rain hanging around will suit her massively, she ran a good race the other day after getting back. She found the line strongly which suggests the mile will suit.
“We’ll just ride her cold again and hopefully she turns up.”