A day of high-quality racing and tight finishes at Trentham was topped off by another ding-donger in the last race as Glamour Tycoon and Platinum Attack went head-to-head in the Listed Bill Tito Book Repair Specialist Lightning Handicap (1200m).
Taranaki trainer Robbie Patterson kicked off his assault on the stakes races at Trentham on Saturday with a bang as underrated mare Our Jumala prevailed in a titanic struggle in the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m).
"It’s pretty windy today and I was out in front all by myself, and he did start to lug the last little bit. But every time he felt the presence of a horse coming, he lifted again. He’s a very good horse.”
The jumps racing scene in New Zealand has been bolstered in the past few seasons by young aspiring jumps jockeys, among them 25-year-old Portia Matthews, who continued her successful run in the saddle at Trentham on Saturday.
Hurry Cane tested his jumping talents against the best in Australia earlier this year and he has returned to New Zealand in search of an elusive prestige jumps scalp.
JJ Rayner will head to Trentham with two strong chances and events on Saturday will determine whether she ventures further afield with the pair next month.
One of the most anticipated match-ups in New Zealand racing will occur at Trentham on Saturday when top jumpers The Cossack and West Coast clash in the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (5500m).
Al Basti Equiworld Dubai have extended their sponsorship of the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) for a further three years.
