Interprovincial glory
NEW Zealand Cup in November is Pacorus’ spring goal after he won the $50,000 Interprovincial Challenge at New Plymouth yesterday.
Pacorus cruised up wide on the home turn and responded gamely for rider Viktoria Gatu in the final stages. The Tavistock gelding led at the top of the straight and held on by a long neck from the solidfinishing Meritaggio.
Managaroa Flo Jo charged home from the back for third.
Cambridge trainer Chris Wood said Gatu rode Pacorus well.
‘‘I told her to get him rolling at the half mile . . . he just keeps on grinding,’’ Wood said.
Pacorus was coming back to 1600m after winning his previous two starts over 2100m at Te Rapa and Tauranga.
Wood is not sure of the path Pacorus will take to the 3200m NZ Cup at Riccarton. The horseman has always thought a bit of Pacorus since the galloper joined his stable as an early 3-year-old.
‘‘I’ve been patient with him, taken him along quietly and he keeps stepping up.’’ RACE IMAGES
The horseman’s patience has been rewarded with Pacorus finishing in the first four in 13 of 19 starts, including five wins, two seconds and four thirds.
Wood and Gatu combined to win with Wooden Edge in the opening event, a $27,500 special conditions maiden. Wooden Edge, a 5-year-old son of Have No Fear and Oh My Girl, is unbeaten in three starts.
Meritaggio’s co-trainer, Steven Ramsay, said the Road To Rock mare would be aimed at the Group III $70,000 Merial Ancare Metric Mile at Awapuni on September 10.
Ramsay was delighted with Meritaggio’s late run yesterday.
‘‘She got held up at a vital time, just before the turn. She really attacked the line,’’ Ramsay said.
‘‘On that run, she would have to be a good chance [at Awapuni].’’
A minor medical condition prevented Palmerston North apprentice Danielle Hirini from riding at New Plymouth. She will also miss the Whanganui meeting today.
The Cambridge training partnership of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman had a bad start at New Plymouth when their runner in the first race, San Miguel, bled. Because it was the second time it had happened, San Miguel is permanently barred from racing in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Awapuni trainer Gail Temperton reckons Just Ishi is the pick of her four runners at the Whanganui meeting.
Palmerston North jockey Gary Walsh will ride Just Ishi in the restricted open hurdles. The 9-year-old gelding finished second in the Sydenham Hurdles and eighth in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton this month.
‘‘He pulled too hard in the National,’’ Temperton said.
Just Ishi has recorded three wins at Whanganui - one on the flat and two over hurdles. Temperton is likely to give Just Ishi a maiden steeplechase start at Whanganui next month before turning him out.
The consistent Nom du Beel and veteran mare Cullister race for Temperton in a rating 65 2060m today.