Progressive stayer Myla (NZ) (Swiss Ace) has hit a purple patch of form this summer, putting together a winning streak that trainers Moira and Kieran Murdoch hope she can extend in Friday’s Ray White Greerton (2100m) at Tauranga.
The daughter of Swiss Ace doubled her winning tally this term when going back-to-back at Rotorua and Te Rapa, the latter a dominant performance defeating subsequent Taupo Cup (2000m) winner Doddle and Thames Cup (1600m) runner-up Maldini.
“It was an excellent run at Te Rapa, she really made it an easy watch because she went to the line so well, and backing up her win from before that,” Kieran Murdoch said. “We were really thrilled.”
Doddle is among the mare’s seven rivals in the open contest, where she will continue her association with jockey Jasmine Fawcett.
“She deserves to be there on Friday, I think she’s nicely placed in the field,” Murdoch said.
“She’s always shown a good turn of foot even at the lesser distances, she’s never disappointed and has always been a handy racehorse. Age has been on her side too, she’s going really well.”
The Murdochs have put in an early nomination for Myla in the Gr.2 Barfoot and Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m), to be run on Champions Day at Ellerslie (March 8).
Later in the week, the Pukekohe trainers will head up to Ellerslie with a pair of runners, including Group Two winner Shamus, who will benefit from the presence of another highly-rated galloper in Orchestral in the Open 1400m contest.
“He’s going well, he’s quite hard to place because he gets so punished in the weights,” Murdoch said.
“He struck a couple of wet tracks which hasn’t been in his favour at all, so we thought we’d go here for the 1400 and hopefully open up some options for him later in the season.
“He’s really well and we’re very happy with him.”
Debutant Reikova will also step out at the races for the first time at the meeting, after recording a placing and a fourth in two trial appearances.
“She’s a really nice filly kicking off at this point,” Murdoch said.
“We do think a lot of her, so hopefully she enjoys her day out and has a nice first experience.”
