Local trainer Michelle Bradley celebrated a winning double at Ruakaka last month with Bosch and Sulabella and they promise to be strong chances again on their home track on Saturday.
Pentire’s son Bosch claimed top honours in the Whangarei Gold Cup Stayers’ Final (2100m) last time out and looks well placed for a repeat performance in the Mountfield Quarry (2100m) while Sulabella takes aim at the Northland Business Systems (1600m).
“Both horses came through their races really well and went to the paddock for a few days after that,” Bradley said.
“Their work has been just as good as it was leading up the last meeting here so I’m happy with both of them.”
Sam Spratt will again take the mount aboard Bosch and Warren Kennedy retains the ride on Proisir’s daughter Sulabella.
Six-time winner Top Brass will be having his second start from Bradley’s quarters following an unplaced run and will also be ridden by Kennedy in the 9 Sep Alibaba’s Flying Carpets Kerikeri (1100m).
“He’s got a really good record going left-handed and I did have him in at Te Rapa last weekend, but he drew nine out of nine which wasn’t ideal,” she said.
“I’ve ridden him a couple of times this week and he feels good in his pacework, he’s lovely and relaxed and doing everything right.
“He looks an absolute treat and think he’ll go a nice race on Saturday. He does prefer to go left-handed, but we’ll give him another crack right-handed and see how he goes.
“He had a wind operation last year and the owners wanted to give him another go and he seems fine.”
The son of Epaulette is a half-brother to Bosch with their dam the High Chaparral mare Highlight, who won three of her five starts.
“Bosch only had his first race in August of last year so he’s still learning his craft and we’ll take him through his grades,” Bradley said.
“There’s a race here in September for him and the money’s good. He’s a horse that isn’t going to like a hard track, he had one crack on a Good 3 at Te Rapa and couldn’t go a bar on it.
“It would be nice to get some black type for the mare’s sake and we’ll aim Bosch at some black type races that will suit him in time.”
Meanwhile, Good Time Gary will be making his first appearance from Bradley’s stable in the Ruakaka – NZ’s Best Bet In Winter (1600m) after seven top four finishes in 11 appearances for Tony Pike.
The Telperion four-year-old dead-heated for second over 2000m in his most recent appearance on the all-weather track at Cambridge.
“He’s pretty genuine and is locally owned and they just wanted to give him a change of scenery and bring him up here,” Bradley said.
“I’ve freshened him up for a mile and I’m still learning a bit about him, but the way he has been racing he should be competitive.”