Cody Cole had hoped to have his talented filly Renovations (NZ) (Ardrossan) running on her home track this week, but instead, she will continue her campaign towards some lofty targets at Tauranga on Saturday.
Renovations had been a prominent late juvenile placing behind Super Photon in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m), and she lost no admirers when resuming as a three-year-old, with a solid performance into fourth behind Alabama Lass in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.
Cole had earmarked either the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) or the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) as the Ardrossan filly’s next stakes target, with the Ultimate Mazda 3YO (1300m) appealing as an ideal stepping stone.
The latter was set to be contested at Matamata before the abandoned Hawke’s Bay card was moved to the venue, pushing that meeting across to the right-handed track in the Bay of Plenty.
“I’m happy with her, but she’s probably not quite as good right-handed, as we were meant to be at Matamata,” Cole said.
“This is another stepping stone to the Soliloquy and the Sarten, those couple of races on that weekend would be the logical next step for her.
“The appeal for the Sarten is that she’s raced twice at Waikato for a win and a second in a stakes race, so she does perform well there. Even though you’re against the boys, it feels a more suitable option than Ellerslie for her.”
Cole had taken a team of five down to Hawke’s Bay last Saturday, with each of those runners now set to make an appearance at the Matamata meeting on Wednesday.
Among the quintet will be Evelyn Rush (NZ) (Derryn) in the Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m), with the Derryn mare coming off a win on debut at the course on September 4.
“I’ve been really happy with her since her debut, she’s back to her home track where she won last time with the same draw so it’s probably a bit more suitable for her than Hastings,” Cole said.
“It’s just whether the trip to Hawke’s Bay has knocked her around, but it doesn’t seem to have so hopefully she can bounce through that well enough to perform well tomorrow.”
The Prophet (NZ) (Redwood) also made a strong impression in his debut victory back in May, and a fourth-placing when stepping up to Rating 65 grade was his final start before a spell. The son of Redwood will line-up in the Colliers Commercial HB Premier (1400m).
“He was obviously very impressive down at Woodville at his first start, then the two-week back-up and a long trip down there possibly took the edge of him because he didn’t quite perform up to what we had expected of him that day,” Cole said.
“He’s got plenty of ability so hopefully we can see a bit of that tomorrow, but he’s definitely not the finished product yet. He’s got a lot of figuring out what he’s here for.”
Cole prepares The Prophet for breeder Gerry Harvey’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Holdings, with stablemate Kind Thoughts (NZ) (Tarzino) also set to run in the familiar silks in the Heretaunga – Hastings To The Core Premier (1600m).
The Tarzino mare had been near-faultless in her brief career to date, before an unfavourable run into ninth on the opening day at the Bay.
“She just wasn’t ridden to suit her, she’s a real staying mare with a good finish on her but that’s with a sustained run, not a dazzling turn of foot,” Cole said.
“She just got held up at the 400 when she needed to be out and rolling, she did well to pick herself back-up when the leaders won that race and find the line again.
“I think you can pretty much draw a line through that run and from a nice gate (3) where she can get out and rolling when she needs too, and with Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) on board, she’ll be running a very good race tomorrow.”
Completing Cole’s team will be older mares Iffshecan and Wet ‘N’ Wild, the pair both accepting into the NZB Ready To Run Trainers Series Premier (1200m) in a fresh state.
“Wet ‘N’ Wild jumped out really well at Ellerslie, but she’s a little bit unknown at the 1200, so it may be a little bit sharp for her,” Cole said.
“She drew a really nice gate at Hastings and now we’re drawn midfield (8) which isn’t really suitable, but I can only be happy with the horse.
“Iffshecan an honest old mare that doesn’t often put in a bad run.
“Last season was probably her worst for us, but she’s come to hand really well this time in and it will be her final season racing. Hopefully she can go on with it, it would be nice to get a little bit of black-type with her somewhere if she steps up to her best this season.”
