Te Akau Racing will be hoping Group 2 winner Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) can start his Australian campaign on a strong note in Saturday’s Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), after the stable reported the ‘cool, calm and collected customer’ had ‘settled in beautifully’ at their Cranbourne base.
“He arrived last Wednesday … they often arrive sort of a week-and-a-half before their run, it gives them time to settle in,” said Ben Gleeson, who is Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s assistant trainer.
“He’s got a really good attitude.”
The team utilised Southside Racing’s gallops morning to get the five-year-old gelding accustomed to the scene of his Listed-level tilt this weekend.
“We’ve just brought him here for his first and only gallop this morning, just a leisurely look around, nothing too strenuous.
“He handled it brilliantly, he just took it all in his stride.
“We couldn’t be happier with him heading into Saturday.”
The half-brother to Gr.2 winner and Karaka Million 2YO runner-up Play That Song has won both starts over 1300m this preparation in New Zealand.
The gelding is looking to return to the trajectory of this three-year-old campaign, which saw him put together five victories in a row, before only racing a handful of times in his four-year-old year.
“He’s got pretty good form, he’s run behind horses like Prowess,” Gleeson noted.
“He’s always been a horse in mind, even this time last year when we first opened, he was a horse that we mentioned may come over here.
“He’s just had a few setbacks along the way, it’s taken him time to mature and get over those speed humps.
“Sam and Mark and the team at home have got him in fine fettle now, he’s sound and obviously he’s won his last two.
“Mark’s really strong on the opinion he’s going to keep developing into a really nice horse, whether that be a mile or further.”
The chestnut galloper will once again rise in trip for Saturday’s contest, with further Australian targets to be determined while he makes Cranbourne home.
“I think he’s an exciting horse for us to program and hopefully head into the autumn with,” Gleeson said.
“Hopefully he can run a good race on Saturday and verify the opinion of the team at home that he’s worthy of coming over.
“If he can run a top three race, he’s certainly on track for Listed and better races and there’s a really nice program between Melbourne and Sydney in the autumn for him.”
