Matamata horseman Cody Cole secured a winning double at Rotorua on Wednesday and he is hoping his stable continues that run of form into the weekend.
The Waikato Stud-bred and raced Knot (NZ) (Ocean Park) opened Cole’s account when breaking maiden ranks in the Waitomo Fuels 1230, while Truefalls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) secured the double with a one length victory in the TW Moore 1560.
“Knot, for Waikato Stud, is quite a promising mare with a good pedigree,” Cole said. “And Truefalls has just taken a bit of time. She has always shown up and a bit of patience by a couple of good owners and she got the job done quite nicely.”
It was a pleasing result for Cole who admitted he had a tough time of it last season.
“We had a bit of a testing season last season. But it’s swings and roundabouts, when you have your time, you have your time,” he said.
“We kicked off nicely with one at Taupo a few weeks ago and hopefully it is a sign of what the season is going to be like.”
Cole will be hoping to collect a few more wins at Te Rapa on Friday where he will have two runners, with Iffshecan likely to bypass the NZB Ready To Run Sale Breeze Ups 11/12 October 3YO (1200m) in favour of Taupo next week.
While Iffshecan (NZ) (Iffraaj) is a doubtful starter, Cole will still have two runners at Te Rapa, with Cadeau (NZ) (Zacinto) contesting the Dunstan Recovery Mash (1200m) and last start runner-up Ardour (NZ) (Proisir) in the Happy 40th Vickie Begovich 1400.
“Cadeau is a promising mare,” Cole said. “She is very lightly tried but has shown plenty.
“She trialled up well but probably wanted another trial with the long break since her last trial, but just the synthetic being the only option, we have waited.
“I do really rate her. I think she will have a good season, she just may want the run tomorrow.
“It was a nice run from Ardour last time. She always needed the blinkers on, so we popped them on. From a cosey gate (4) she will be a chance of running in the money, but there are a few that are a bit smarter than her in there.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Cole will head south to Hastings on Saturday with Aquaoir (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the Villa Maria Gimblett Gravels 1400, while Crafty Jess (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) will line-up in the Apparelmaster Waikato Open Handicap (1400m) at Te Aroha on Sunday.
“Aquaoir will kick off at Hastings,” Cole said. “She will get back and most likely be running on. She has improved as an older mare and she should be in for a good, fun season.
“Crafty Jess is coming to the twilight of her career. She is going to be served in the next couple of weeks.
“She raced just fairly the other day, but we have played around with a bit of the gear and changed a few things with her, so we will see if she runs on a bit better going on Sunday.”
