The curtain will come down this weekend on what has been a long but fruitful season for Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress).
Trainer Robbie Patterson has lined her up nine times this season, for three wins, including victories in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m).
The daughter of Shamexpress also placed in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m), and Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Her runner-up result in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes secured her trip across to Brisbane for the Queensland Winter Carnival.
She made a pleasing start to her Australian campaign, winning her 1200m trial at the Sunshine Coast before running seventh in the Gr.2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm earlier this month.
Despite the result, Patterson was pleased with her run and said she has taken plenty of improvement from it heading into her main target, the Gr.1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
“She has come through it really well, she just got stuck on the inside, that was our only concern on the day,” Patterson told SENTrack.
“She wasn’t in a place where it was rock hard, so that probably helped her. But it is a tricky track at the moment.
“Coming through the race, she is as sound as a bell and she has licked the bowl ever since.
“She was always going to improve with the run, she hadn’t raced for two months.”
Patterson has welcomed the wet forecast ahead of Saturday and said it would only aid his mare’s chances.
“The forecast is for rain on Friday and Saturday, which will play in our favour more than others I would imagine,” he said.
“Any rain on Saturday would be a blessing for us.”
Coventina Bay had her final piece of serious work on Tuesday morning and Patterson said jockey Samantha Collett gave a glowing report after their track session.
“Her work this morning was as good as she has ever done,” Patterson said. “Sam rode her this morning and she really finished her work off nice and pulled up great. She won’t do too much more between now and Saturday.
“All the signs are that she is in great form.”
While it has been a long season for Coventina Bay, Patterson said she loves being in work, but will head for a well-deserved break after Saturday’s run.
“She has had a few runs, but I have spaced them out all the way through,” he said.
“She had a couple of weeks off before she came here, but she is a happy horse. She just loves being in work and loves racing.
“This is her finale.”
