Former high-flying three-year-old Wild Night gave the impression that he is back to his best form at Matamata on Wednesday, taking out the Matamata Function Centre Premier (1300m).
Trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson have been playing the catch-up game with Wild Night for next month’s $1 million Elsdon Park Aoteoroa Classic (1600m), and they seem to be winning.
Mark Walker would love nothing more than to see the jockey statue in the Matamata racecourse birdcage painted in the colours of a Te Akau Racing-trained winner.
Matamata trainer Graham Richardson has an eye on New Zealand’s longest juvenile Group One race as he prepares To Catch A Thief to resume racing at his home track this weekend.
After a dazzling performance in winning Saturday’s Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, connections of star four-year-old Imperatriz have decided to raise the bar.
Prowess, who stared the hottest favourite of the day at Te Rapa on Saturday, justified her $1.20 quote when she gave her three-year-old counterparts a complete shellacking in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m).
Outstanding three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart overcame a wide run in transit against a quality field of middle distance performers to capture the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa in a performance that had to be seen to be believed.
Trainer Mark Walker is looking forward to Saturday’s bumper meeting at Te Rapa where he has strong chances in both Group One races – the BCD Group Sprint (1400m) and the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).
