Bouncer won’t let anyone in at Taranaki
TARANAKI TRAINER Bryce Revell may be the man to turn around the fortunes of the province’s NPC team.
The New Plymouth trainer showed he had the winning touch when his progressive galloper, The Bouncer, won the annual $50,000 ITM Interprovincial Challenge (1600m) at New Plymouth yesterday.
It was the first time in the 18 years the feature race has been run that a local horse representing the host province had lifted the Challenge Shield.
‘‘It might turn the fortunes of the Taranaki Rugby team around,’’ said Revell, a keen follower of the Taranaki rugby teram.
The previous night in Napier, the amber and blacks narrowly lost their ITM Cup match to Hawke’s Bay.
Revell said it was a buzz to have finally won the Interprovincial for his home province.
He prepared his capable winter galloper I Am Sam to finish second in the 2010 running of the race.’’.
‘‘Races for 50 grand are good to win because they are few and between and now we’ll be able to take the kids out for dinner,’’ he said.
‘‘ I was always confident he would go a big race and, as soon as I saw he had relaxed early, I knew that he would finish hard.’’
‘‘I’t’s a buzz to win the shield for the home crowd. You know you have everyone behind you.’’
The Bouncer is raced by his breeder Jan Wilson, of South Taranaki.
The His Royal Highness six-yearold gelding won his previous start at Riccarton by six lengths and started a $4.10c favourite to win .
Winning rider Mark Du Plessis, settled The Bouncer midfield early and picked a a path through the leading pack to challenge for the lead 250m out going on to win by a long neck from Horowhenua representative Aplomb. Aplomb looked the likely winner early in the run home and was game in defeat. Mistaar (King Country) was a short head further back third with Joey Jonz next home.
Revell is seriously considering taking The Bouncer to Sydney for a hit and run campaign this spring .
‘‘There’s a few suitable races in Sydney for him, so I’d like to stick him on a plane and have a bit of a play around with him over there,’’ he said. ‘‘I could do with a trip away.’’ Susan Rainford is happy to take a patient approach with Percy and believes her waiting tactics will be fully rewarded next time around.
The New Plymouth ownertrainer has an exciting prospect on her hands with the son of the English Derby winner Sir Percy, who returned to racing on his home track on Saturday in outstanding style.
‘‘He’s going to be better as a five-year-old and racing as a fouryear-old against the top class is really hard,’’ Rainford said.
‘‘ I’ll just potter through the grades with him. He’s going to be much better next year.’’
A dual winner from five appearances last season and a creditable fifth in the group two Wellington Guineas, Percy hadn’t raced since February but there was pre-race confidence before his four length drubbing of his rating 75 rivals in the ITM/ Makita 1400 Handicap.
‘‘He won a trial at Waverley in atrocious conditions last week,‘‘ Rainford said. ‘‘He was fit and well and it’s lovely racing at home.