Spencer scores confidence-boosting win ahead of Foxbridge Plate
Group Three winner Spencer (NZ) (Derryn) scored a confidence-boosting win at Ruakaka on Saturday ahead of his return to stakes company in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa later this month.
The seven-year-old gelding hadn’t featured in the money in the six starts since his previous triumph in November last year, and trainers Peter and Shaun McKay were pleased to see him get up to win by a long head in the Harcourts Whangarei (1400m).
“It was good to get him back in form again,” Peter McKay said. “We faced some pretty good company after Christmas, we backed off and he has taken a couple of runs to come back. It was really good to have him back winning again.”
Heading to Ruakaka wasn’t initially the plan with the son of Derryn, but after seeing the nominations were a bit thin last week, McKay elected to change tack.
“The plan was to go to Te Rapa (this coming Saturday) and not Ruakaka, and two weeks later into the Foxbridge,” McKay said. “When the fields came up a little bit light at Ruakaka we decided to go there, and then we have three weeks to freshen him up slightly.”
McKay said Spencer has come through his run in fine fettle and he is now looking forward to heading to Te Rapa with him later this month.
“He has come through the race well. He was bouncing around yesterday before we brought him in from the paddock,” McKay said.
“For the Foxbridge, it would be nice if we got a bit of a shower on the day to loosen it (track) up. He is going to be up against some good horses when he gets there, but he is a fit horse, so we will have a go.”
Stablemate Santa Catalina (NZ) (Puccini) had the first start of her preparation in the same race, and despite finishing last in the eight-horse field, McKay was pleased with her performance.
“She was just meant to be going for the trial, but we decided to put her in the open 1400m,” McKay said. “Even though she has run last of eight, she still ran home well. They walked and then sprinted home. We were rapt with her run and she is coming up nicely. We will look to map something out for her.”
A stable runner that did take his place in the open 1050m trial at Ruakaka was Group Three winner Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini), who finished third behind Group One winner Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) and Group One performer State Of Valour (NZ) (Sword Of State).
“He seems to be a bit more rejuvenated this time around,” McKay said. “Shaun keeps commenting how well he has been feeling. When we bring him in at night he is bucking and kicking. Hopefully he comes back to his best again, like he was a couple of years ago.
“His trial was a lot better, he is jumping and showing a bit more enthusiasm, where last season his first two trials he went out the back door and followed them around.”
