Local victory in New Plymouth Interprovincial
Local runner Jaeger (NZ) (Time Test) proudly carried the Taranaki colours to a gritty victory when he took out the New Plymouth ITM Interprovincial (1600m) with a powerful finish on Saturday.
All runners in the event carry the colours of the province they are representing, with Jaeger adorned in the classic amber and black stripes for New Plymouth-based trainer Robbie Patterson as he thrilled the locals with victory over Horowhenua representative Dubai’s Potiki (NZ) (Ocean Park).
Rider Kavish Chowdhoory had Jaeger perfectly positioned in the trail throughout and was travelling peaches and cream turning for home.
Angled to the centre of the track, Jaeger set out after Dubai’s Potiki, who had cut the corner on the final bend to surge to the lead, with eventual third-placed runner Florin (NZ) (Vanbrugh) wider out after looping runners from near last.
With Chowdhoory riding hard, Jaeger found more than his rivals and went to the line a half neck to the good of Dubai’s Potiki, with Florin a length further back.
Patterson cut a satisfied figure after the win as he had set the horse for the race many months earlier.
“We planned for this as I thought he was the ideal type and I knew he would get in with a light weight (54.5kgs),” he said.
“He is not really a genuine wet tracker, but he is very tractable and puts himself in a race, which is a massive assist as you move up the grades.
“He has been working the house down and looked a million dollars, so we were confident he could go well and to pull off the win on your home patch is very special.”
Patterson has set his sights on a lofty target for his charge, with the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on 11 November in his crosshairs.
“I think he is just the sort of horse that will be suited by Riccarton, so we have him nominated for the TAB mile on the middle day of the Cup Carnival in Christchurch,” he said.
“I won the race back in 2023 with Puntura (NZ) (Vespa), and this guy has very similar ability, so he should be a real live chance down in the weights there.”
Bred by co-owner Jack O’Brien, Jaeger is by Time Test and out of the Gold Centre mare Waiana Gold (NZ). He has now won four of his 15 starts and $110,705 in prizemoney.
