Dezella winning at Otaki last Friday. Photo: Grant Matthew (Race Images Palmerston North)
New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson has experienced one of his best weeks in racing, recording a
treble at his home track on Thursday after picking up a double at Otaki last Friday.
Patterson was delighted with the results, particularly at his home meeting where he was able to enjoy the victories with his stable owners, with the highlight being a quinella in the Stella Artois Maiden (1200m) with Barney Rubble (NZ) (Showcasing) and All That Jazz (NZ) (Jimmy Choux).
“I was a bit disappointed running second with one yesterday, but I couldn’t help it, I won the race,” Patterson quipped.
“It was great to get the treble on the home track, with all the owners there, it was a real buzz for
everybody.”
Patterson said he was confident his team would perform well on Thursday and he was glad they
delivered for their connections.
“Dee Keepa (NZ) (Keeper) is a serious horse, I thought she would be winning,” he said. “Barney Rubble is a bit of a larrikin. I thought with the blinkers on he would be hard to beat.
“Regal Rock (NZ) (Road To Rock), she is a tricky horse, she just needs to relax. That is why I gave her a couple over 1400m, just to get her off the bit. Yesterday Sam (Collett, jockey) rode a pearler.”
Patterson has been in a rebuilding phase with his stable in the last 12 months and he is starting to reap
the rewards, with the Taranaki trainer now sitting on 11 wins for the season, two clear of last season’s tally.
“It has only been the last year that I have sort of regrouped,” he said. “I lost a really good owner and it has taken a while to build the team up.
“We have got some really nice horses around us and we have got really good staff, which is great, that’s one of the big battles.
“The horses are well, looking good, and are performing accordingly, so long may it last.”
While he is enjoying his great run of form, Patterson is looking forward to the next few months with in-form stayer Dezella (NZ).
The daughter of Zed took her record to five wins from 10 starts at Otaki last week and Patterson holds
great expectations for her future, with a possible Australian autumn campaign in the offing.
However, before then she will be tested for the first time at stakes level next week when she competes in the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m).
“She is really blossoming at the moment and she has thrived since the other day,” Patterson said. “I can’t fault the horse, she just keeps improving. She is going to go onto the Waikato Cup next week.
“You never know, if she wins a Waikato Cup and everything goes well you don’t know where we could end up. We might go and target a race in Australia in the autumn.”
