Much of the field in Saturday’s CLC Pakuranga Hunt Open Hurdle (3200m) made a serious account of themselves ahead of the Great Northern Hurdles (4200m) in three weeks’ time, none more so than the winner in Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu).
An imposing son of Mettre En Jeu, Taika entered the stable of Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal early last year and progressed rapidly through to strong open company over hurdles, including finishing second in this race twelve months ago.
When looking a key chance, Taika fell in the latter stages of the 2023 Great Northern Hurdles (4200m) and completed his fantastic season on an unfortunate note, however, he has come back stronger and finished a narrow second to Berry The Cash (NZ) (Jakkalberry) in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3100m) in July.
Many expected Taika to have the better of his high-performing stablemate Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara) in the Wellington Hurdles (3200m) with a weight advantage, but the gelding finished a close-up third and was set for a rematch with Nedwin and second-placegetter Invisible Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit) in the Te Rapa contest.
Punters kept the faith in Taika backing him into a $3.20 favourite ahead of Mont Ventoux (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) ($3.50), and jockey Hamish McNeill looked full of confidence rolling positively into the opening fence. Defending champion English Gambler (Casino Prince) took up his anticipated role as pacemaker through the opening lap, but heading down the back straight for the final time, Taika took over and was challenged by Invisible Spirit at the 800 metres.
Invisible Spirit looked to be travelling the better around the home turn, but Taika was up for the fight and jumped the final three fences beautifully, pulling away in the closing stages to hold off the former by a length, with Mont Ventoux and Nedwin keeping in touch with the top pair closing off well to fill the first four placings.
McNeill was impressed with the performance of his mount, who is on target for a shot at redemption at Te Rapa on September 15.
“I was (confident), I know I ran third behind him (Invisible Spirit) at Wellington but if you go watch it again, in the last 50m Taika was coming back at it again,” he said.
“I knew at the 600m I was in for a war, but I knew I was on the right animal.
“He jumped perfectly, he came up a bit long on a couple but he’s an absolute tank and you don’t feel anything on him.
“I can’t have any complaints, I won this race last year on English Gambler and said the same sort of thing, but he (Taika) is definitely a horse that will improve over the next three weeks and he was pricking his ears coming into the last.
“He’s had a few weeks in between runs, one on the flat but nothing to test him like today, so I’m quietly confident.
“I don’t think the extra distance will bother him, he settled well for me today and jumps well.”
Nelson, who part-owns the eight-year-old with his brother Mark and Waikato local Ken Garnett, was pleased with both of his charges ahead of their grand final.
“He (Taika) has been unlucky, he was going very well in the Northern Hurdles last year and fell so he’s a pretty good horse,” he said.
“Him getting the win was good, and just seeing Nedwin back and finishing on, I was rapt.
“They were both good trials.”
Taika was bred by the late Karen Remetis, and he has now won five races and $126,584 in stakes earnings through his career. His half-brother, Shackletons Edge, out of Remetis and Garnett’s mare Isabella Soraya (NZ) (Al Akbar), finished second in the 2021 Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (5500m) in the care of Nelson and McDougal.
