Cody Cole will head to Ruakaka with a competitive selection of runners on Wednesday before chasing a black-type target closer to home over the weekend with Renovations (NZ) (Ardrossan).
Cole found the winner’s circle twice across the North Island last week, including at Wanganui when consistent galloper Extortion (NZ) (Casino Prince) took out the Rating 75 1400m event, his fourth career win in a resurgent season for the six-year-old.
“He went super, Kozzi (Asano, jockey) gave him every chance and rated him perfectly outside the leader. He kicked well when he needed to, the horse has been going really well after being on the nearly retired list a few times,” Cole said.
“He doesn’t cop really heavy tracks so he’ll probably have one more run, provided the tracks hold up, and based off this season he’s shown he deserves another crack in the spring.”
Shifting his focus to the Ruakaka meeting on Wednesday, Cole has engaged four runners, including three for prominent owner-breeder Gerry Harvey.
Among them is lightly-tried mare Kind Thoughts (NZ), the four-year-old daughter of Tarzino having shown promise throughout her short career, including a narrow second in a competitive Rating 65 event on New Year’s Day that proved a strong form race with the likes of Wallen (NZ) (Tarzino) and Mosinvader (NZ) (Vadamos).
“We’re just using Wednesday as a bit of a trial for her, she’s probably a bit better than a midweek race, but I thought we would get a better surface up there than at the Te Awamutu trials on Tuesday,” Cole said.
“We just had a set back with her otherwise she would’ve been racing a month to six weeks ago. She’s a lovely mare that has got a bright future and hasn’t done much wrong in her career to date.
“She’s up and ready to go so it would be a shame to put her in the paddock now, so she can have a couple of runs and if the weather holds, she can head to Te Rapa next.
“We just hope to get her rating up so we can look at some nicer races next season, because I think she is progressive.”
Matthew Cameron will partner the Tarzino mare in the June Bream Bay Business Day (1400m), while Michael McNab is engaged to ride Latrelle (NZ) (Redwood) and Bocote (NZ) (Redwood) in the Porthouse Bar & Eatery (1400m) and Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1400m) respectively.
“Bocote just had a few niggles after her first-up run and ended up being spelled. She trialled well the other day and has been working really well for a maiden, so if she can run up to her work, she’ll go a bold race,” Cole said.
Bridgerton (NZ) will complete Cole’s representatives at Ruakaka in the Lion Red (2100m), the Tavistock mare likely to appreciate the step-up over ground with Craig Grylls on board.
“We had to go all the way to Hawera to get a start as she missed out at Rotorua, and it was a super run, she was fresh-up with no trials or jumpout, so it was really good,” Cole said.
“2000m is her pet trip and should suit her nicely.”
The Matamata horseman will bring a smaller team to Te Rapa on Saturday, with promising juvenile Renovations set to contest the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m).
A daughter of Ardrossan, Renovations delivered a strong maiden win at the Waikato venue after performing creditably in stakes company the start prior, and Cole is hopeful she can complete her juvenile season on a high in the feature.
“She’s flying, she galloped in between races at Te Rapa on Saturday and they were kind enough to let her have a look around there,” he said.
“We had a little setback with her, but she worked really well and I couldn’t be happier with her.
“I’m looking forward to that, but she’ll be off to the paddock afterwards and looking towards her three-year-old season.”
