Shaun Phelan is set to be represented by leading contenders at both New Zealand race meetings on Saturday, despite the likely scratching of his six-race winner Enchanted Elle.
The daughter of Jakkalberry is entered for the Beard Brothers Handicap (2200m) at Hastings, where the 4kg claim of apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram would reduce her impost to just 50kg.
“Unfortunately, she’s got a bit of a sore foot, so it’s looking like she might have to be scratched from that race on Saturday,” Phelan said. “But we’re still hoping to get her back to something like the Taumarunui Cup (2200m) later in the month, which she won last year, and she could have a hurdle career ahead of her yet as well.”
Enchanted Elle’s defection would leave Phelan with two runners at Hastings – Perfectmanz in the Tipsy Towbar Handicap (2100m) and Danzino in the Happy Hire Handicap (2100m) – while promising hurdler Pacheco headlines the Cambridge trainer’s two-strong team at Te Rapa.
Pacheco is rated a $3.80 favourite for the TAB Hurdle (2800m), having made a big impression with his maiden hurdle victory over the same course and distance on June 15. The six-year-old son of Makfi has also been racing well on the flat, including a second placing behind subsequent black-type winner Casino Princess at Rotorua in May, along with a close fourth at Ruakaka last Saturday.
“His maiden hurdle win was a pretty promising performance,” Phelan said. “There’s been a bit of form out of that race as well, with Mont Ventoux winning his next start by a big margin.
“I thought his run on the flat the other day was really good too, so he’s going pretty well at the moment. I couldn’t be any happier with him.”
Hastings candidate Perfectmanz contested the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March, finishing 12th. His first appearance since then came at Tauranga on June 22, where he finished at the tail of a seven-horse field over an unsuitable 1300m distance.
“Perfectmanz is coming up really well,” Phelan said. “He obviously ran in the Derby last prep. This is a big step up in distance for his second run of the campaign, going straight from 1300m to 2100m. But we did something similar last time too, where he ran fifth over 1400m on debut and then won a 2040m maiden in his second start. So I’d expect the big increase in distance to suit him, and he seems to handle wet tracks well.”
Danzino is taking a similar step up in distance for his second-up assignment on Saturday, having made up good ground for fourth over 1400m in his resuming run at Tauranga late last month. The Tarzino gelding was a maiden winner over 2200m earlier in the season.
“I thought it was a massive run over 1400m fresh up,” Phelan said. “It’s a big jump in distance for him too, but he’s a lovely big 17-hands Tarzino. Getting up over ground should be absolutely ideal. We’re lucky to have Johnathan Parkes booked to ride him too, because I think he needs a strong rider."