New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson is keen to head north to Te Rapa next month with five-win gelding Conor O’Ceirin (NZ) (Dial A Prayer) to give him a crack at a Group Three scalp.
The six-year-old will be on trial for the trip when he heads to Awapuni on Saturday to contest the Waipine Logging/John Turkington Forestry 1400.
He heads into the race in good form, having won two of his last four starts, and ran third last start at Trentham last month.
Patterson has been pleased with the way Conor O’Ceirin has progressed since that run and is welcoming the late spring wet weather.
“He has been in good form. He probably should have won his last start, but we took a lot of confidence out of that,” Patterson said.
“He has trained on well and a bit of rain around won’t worry him. He can handle an off track.”
If he performs well, Conor O’Ceirin will head to Te Rapa on Waikato Cup Day for the Gr.3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), a race previously won by stablemate Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress).
“If he won, and won really impressively, I might look at the J Swap Sprint on the 10th of December at Te Rapa,” Patterson said.
“I think Te Rapa would suit him. He would be able to relax and get home.”
Another stable runner with a Group Three assignment on the same day is promising three-year-old filly Terziere (NZ) (Complacent).
She won well over 1200m on debut at Woodville last month and will ready for the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni on December 10, with her first look around the Palmerston North track on Saturday in the Wenham Grain & Seed 1300.
“She has progressed really well from that run. It is another step up in a strong field, but she is a horse with a lot of upside, I really like her,” Patterson said.
“We will just ride her where she lands and as long as she is hitting the line really strong I will be really happy.
“She will go to the Eulogy after this. Going forward, she is a really lovely filly.”
Rounding out Patterson’s team on Saturday will be Mary Louise (NZ) (The Bold One) in the Higgins Concrete 1600.
The daughter of The Bold One has won twice and placed once in her three career outings to date and Patterson believes a bright future is instore for the four-year-old mare.
“She is a progressive girl and will make a lovely stayer. I am struggling for a jockey at the moment, but Ciel Butler may ride her,” he said.
“She is heading in the right direction and I expect a big run from her tomorrow.”
