Our Jumala (NZ) (Zed) finished runner-up in last year’s running of the Gr.3 intowin.co.nz Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2050m), and trainer Robbie Patterson is hoping she can go one better in this year’s edition at Wanganui on Saturday.
The daughter of Zed is in a purple patch of form, winning her last two outings, including victory in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham last month.
Patterson has been duly pleased with her impressive run of form and is confident of another bold showing this weekend, but she will have to contend with the wet weather bomb that is set to hit much of the country over the coming days.
“She has hardened off now, everything is going right for her and hopefully she goes on with it from her last win,” he said. “The field doesn’t look any stronger, so it will just depend on where Wanganui gets at with this weather coming.
“If it gets like a real Wanganui wet track it won’t be a great draw (2), she will probably have to drop back and go around them, but she can race wherever you want her.”
Further Group targets await Our Jumala post-Saturday, with Patterson eyeing the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on April 26, otherwise he will switch his focus to winter racing, with the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton the major target.
“We might go to the Travis in two weeks, or we could freshen-up and get into winter racing, and I might even target the Winter Cup with her,” he said. “There are plenty of options for her.”
Patterson will also head to Wanganui with four-win gelding Ragamuffin (NZ) (Belardo), who will be fresh-up in the Taranaki-Wanganui NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (1350m).
“He enjoys a bit of cut out of the ground,” Patterson said. “He had a nice trial last week and he is a horse that has got another win or two in him.”
A day prior at Waverley, Patterson will be represented by a quartet of runners and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Marketa (NZ) (Eminent) in the Kawa Farm 1650, and last-start winner Hot Mama (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) in the Good Luck Team Wanganui At Halberg Games (1400m).
“Marketa has been knocking on the door to win a race, and you’re not going to get a much easier race than a maiden high weight,” Patterson said.
“Hot Mama is a really nice filly, and she is going to end up quite a nice horse in the future, so I expect her to go well as well.”
Meanwhile, Patterson has received positive reports from across the Tasman about his Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), who is set to attempt to double her Oaks tally for new trainer Chris Waller at Randwick next week.
“She has gone to Chris Waller’s and he is pretty happy with her, so they have pushed forward and it is looking like she is going to be running in the Australian Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) on Saturday-week,” Patterson said.
“It will be tough, that Treasurethe Moment is a good horse, but so is she.”
