New Zealand’s reigning Champion Jumper, West Coast (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), is set to resume at Waverley on Thursday and trainer Mark Oulaghan has a plethora of options ahead of him this season with the eight-year-old gelding.
The son of Mettre En Jeu is yet to miss a placing in his 14 jumping starts to date, including seven steeplechase victories and a sole Hurdle triumph.
His jumping prowess was on full display last year when he won his maiden Hurdle in May before going on to secure four prestige jumps titles, including the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m), Wellington Steeplechase (5500m), Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), and Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m).
He has returned in fine fettle, having a mile trial at Foxton last week ahead of his resuming run on the flat in the Chris Hay Livestock (2200m).
“He seems pretty well. Compared to last year he is in a similar mode,” Oulaghan said.
“It (Waverley) is a reasonable place to give him a run and that is basically it for him, he will be there to have a run.”
While a similar path to last year is tempting, Oulaghan hasn’t ruled out any targets, including feature jumping contests across the Tasman.
“We are not 100 percent sure at this stage,” he said. “We are just going to get a couple of runs into him and see where the opportunities lie. We are a little bit flexible at this stage, we haven’t made any set plans.”
West Coast was part of a memorable Grand National double at Riccarton last year for Oulaghan, with stablemate Berry The Cash taking out the Grand National Hurdles (4200m).
The seven-year-old gelding is also set to resume at Waverley on Thursday in the Taranaki-Wanganui NZTBA (2200m) after pleasing in his mile trial last week where he finished runner-up behind Group Three winner Aljay.
“Berry The Cash is in the same boat, it will just be a conditioning run for him,” Oulaghan said.
“We were pretty happy with the run (trial) there (Foxton). I know it was a small field but the horse that beat him is a fair galloper. We were happy enough.”
While West Coast’s campaign has yet to be finalised, Berry The Cash’s key targets have been locked in, with a defence of his Grand National Hurdles crown a priority.
“He will probably go to Manawatu, Wellington and the National, that will be his programme for this year,” Oulaghan said.
Oulaghan is also set to line-up Rocking Light in the Nick O’Leary Farrier (1650m).
“Rocking Light will go jumping but we he just needs a few flat runs to get his head around the job properly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Oulaghan is looking forward to three of his team having their first run over fences this year when they head to Hawera on Sunday.
“We will kick a few off at Hawera on Sunday. Super Flash in the maiden hurdle, and Super Spirit and Kentucky Boy in the Steeplechase,” he said.
“They have had a flat run each, so condition-wise they are not super fit, but they are getting that way, and Hawera will be a good place to kick them off.”