The Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) will again be the target for last season’s runner-up Tahuroa Height (NZ) (Zed).
The son of Zed produced a sterling performance to beat all bar Nedwin in 2023 and trainer Stephen Ralph is keen to give the rising nine-year-old the opportunity to go one better.
Tahuroa Height will bid to stage a return to his best form on Saturday when he runs in the TAB Hurdle (2800m) at Te Rapa after a disappointing effort at Hastings where he tailed the field home in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m).
“He’s been absolutely frustrating for us and he’s been down to the Central Districts a few times and never gone well, but we’ve got no issues with him,” Ralph said.
“He’s going into his races as good as we can get him and he’s pulling up extremely well.
“In our book, he’s a Te Rapa specialist and he likes a loose surface. He doesn’t do the holding tracks and when there’s rain on the day, that’s when he excels.
Tahuroa Height will again be ridden at the weekend by Corey Wiles, and Ralph would be happy for the combination make their own luck out in front.
“He can lead and likes to be his own boss. That’s the type of horse he is, and I’ve always said if he steps the gates then don’t be frightened to lead,” he said.
“He can run a distance and pins his ears back, he’s a streetfighter if something else comes at him.
“He’ll be heading toward the Great Northern again if all goes well.”
Ralph will also have two flat contenders in action at Te Rapa with New York Jazz (NZ) (Niagara) in the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) and Timeless (NZ) (Time Test) in the Irwin’s Truck & Bus Mile (1600m).
“We couldn’t be happier with New York Jazz. He ran fifth last time when he got bogged down at Hastings,” he said.
“The track was really holding and they went slowly down the back straight and he couldn’t pick up and sprint in that ground. I thought it was a really honest run from him.”
Timeless was a sound fifth on the course two runs back and then finished a gallant third at Tauranga after racing three wide without cover.
“She wouldn’t have to do too much more than she did at her last run to win in my book,” Ralph said.
The stable also has three runners engaged at Tauranga on Sunday and Ralph expects Monique Tonnerre (NZ) (Thunder Down under) to be a decent chance in the Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga Maiden (1200m).
She is a mare close to his heart as he trained her sire Thunder Down Under, the winner of four races including the Listed 3YO Salver (2100m) and who now stands at stud on his property.
He also prepared multiple placegetter Monique Tonnerre’s half-sister Santa Monica (NZ) (Per Incanto) to claim an edition of the Gr.1 Railway Stakes (1200m).
