Powerful trio for local trainers in Hawke’s Bay Hurdle
Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal will line up a powerful trio of runners in their attempt to claim another Buckley Contracting Hawke’s Bay Hurdle (3000m) at Woodville on Sunday.
The Hastings-based partnership have Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) and The Bambino (NZ) (Rock 'n' Pop) entered in the $60,000 contest, each having come through the Waikato Hurdle (3200m) where they finished second, third and fifth respectively.
While The Bambino may have been in behind his stablemates on that occasion, the son of Rock ‘N’ Pop is a course specialist at Woodville, having won two and placed in one of his three starts there.
The winner of last year’s Waikato Hurdle and Sydenham Hurdle, Dictation was set to run in last week’s rescheduled Wellington Hurdle (3200m) but was a precautionary withdrawal due to a leg infection.
Taika came close to winning the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle two years ago and has since won a Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m), but McDougal has queries on the likely heavy track he will face on Sunday.
“I think The Bambino will be our go here, he loves Woodville,” McDougal said.
“Taika is going well but he doesn’t like the Heavy tracks, he just needs the run to get ready to race elsewhere.
“Dictation had an infection in his leg, so he had to miss Wellington. He didn’t miss any work, it was just a precaution, but he will be short of that run.”
Looking ahead to the Grand National Carnival at the start of August, the latter pair are likely to make an appearance in Christchurch, with Taika’s schedule tailored to his preferred conditions.
“Dictation and possibly Taika, weather dependent, will go down there, so they need the run on Sunday to prepare,” McDougal said. “The Bambino will stay up here.”
The stable will present two maiden hurdlers earlier on the card, including former Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) winner Outovstock (NZ) (Tavistock) in the Paewai Mullins Maiden Hurdle (3000m).
“He has done some schooling, been to the point-to-point and he’s a nice horse, but we are still learning about him and he’s still green at the game,” McDougal said.
“Kamaal will improve off his last start, and he should be a pretty nice chance.”
Kamaal (NZ) (Fabulous) will start in the Subtract Contractors Maiden Hurdle (3000m), while Vadamos gelding Monroe (NZ) (Vadamos) takes his place in the Six Rivers Automotive Amateur Riders (2100m) with in-form rider Alexandra Reed in the saddle.
“Monroe’s run at Waipuk was quite nice and he should go a nice race in the amateur,” McDougal said.
Two former stars of Nelson and McDougal’s stable, Suliman and The Cossack, will also be at the course at Woodville for the ‘Jumping Legends Day’.
McDougal has The Cossack in her care post racing, following a glittering career where he accumulated an incredible haul of prestige victories and more than $700,000 in stakes. Last year’s Grand National Hurdle winner, Suliman, is now out hunting with the Hawke’s Bay Hunt, in the care of co-owner Lucy de Lautour.
“I’m quite excited about taking Crafty down there, it’s really neat to have him and Suliman going,” McDougal said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
