Moira and Kieran Murdoch will head to Arawa Park on Wednesday with a quartet of runners including Divine Essence (NZ) (Iffraaj), who will aim for back-to-back successes at the venue in the Waitomo Fuels (1950m).
The Iffraaj mare was successful a fortnight ago in Rating 65 grade over the same distance, an improvement in form that the Murdoch’s had hoped for.
“It wasn’t so much of a surprise, more so that she got things her way in the running which she needs,” Kieran Murdoch said.
“She lacks a bit of confidence in amongst horses, so we’re not upset about the wide barrier this time. We’re hoping for a repeat and Craig (Grylls, jockey) did a lovely job on her last time.”
Divine Essence has drawn an outside barrier with Grylls retaining the ride, while stablemate Myla (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will line-up in the same race with some sharp recent form including a third placing in Rating 75 grade at Ellerslie behind Cannon Hill and Mars.
“She (Myla) is a pretty versatile little mare, she doesn’t mind the distance or surface and she tries really hard,” Kieran Murdoch said.
“Unfortunately, the programming meant that both girls landed in the same race which isn’t what we would prefer, and they are two very different horses, but hopefully they’ve both got a show.
“Myla is a proper little racehorse.”
In the MacMillan Accountants 1950, Loose Change (NZ) (The Bold One) will seek his elusive maiden success after finishing in the first five on 16 occasions.
“We did want to get to the 2000, he’s taken 22 starts to win a race which has been a little bit of a surprise, but we’re never disappointed with him either,” Kieran Murdoch said.
“While we’re fit and up and going, we thought we’d dabble in that next distance and hope that he likes it. He’s got lovely race manners, but he just seemed to either find one better, or a new desire in the running, like getting to the front too early which has been the case recently.
“He’s a bit of a trick, but we do thoroughly enjoy having him.”
The stable is looking forward to continuing the development of Charlemagne (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Campbell Infrastructure 1560, a half-brother to four-race winner C’est Moi. The four-year-old pleased his trainers on debut at Te Aroha, finishing fifth behind Sabik.
“We were really happy with that run, he’s bred for double the ground and he’s going to be a nice stayer,” Kieran Murdoch said. “He goes like one and he thought they were pretty quick over the 1400, so the extra distance will only help.
“We intend to keep going up the distances, we have the long-term goal in mind for him.
“If he ran as well as he did over the 1400m and keep showing us that he wants more ground, we’ll be happy with that, he’s a really nice horse.”
