Taranaki filly Shamelia Kirk (NZ) (Shamexpress) showed plenty as juvenile and trainer Robbie Patterson is hopeful she can bring that form into her three-year-old season, with her first test being the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic (1100m) at Taupo on Sunday.

The daughter of Shamexpress had three starts last season for a win and two seconds, including a runner-up performance behind Actionbelle (Bivouac) in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.

Patterson was pleased with her effort on the testing Heavy10 track and said she has thrived after being freshened, with her barrier being his only concern heading into Sunday.

“She is very well, she has done super since the Castletown,” Patterson said. “She had a little break after that and has come back and is looking great. Just the sticky draw (12) is the only problem on Sunday, and a good field.”

Further stakes targets await Shamelia Kirk, with the ultimate aim being the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November if she indicates she can handle a mile.

“She will go two weeks into the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m) and then she will have another little break, and we will see whether she is up to going down to Christchurch or not, she will tell us,” Patterson said.

“The way she ran out the Castletown, it was a very testing track, and it looked like she was gone at the top of the straight and then she got going late, which suggested she will get over further, it’s just whether she gets a mile or not.”

Patterson will also be represented at Taupo by last start winner Jaeger (NZ) (Time Test), who will be fresh-up in the Group One Stallions @ Rich Hill 1400 after his pleasing trial at Foxton last week.

“He trialled up super, he has never looked better,” Patterson said. “He has taken a long time to mature and I am really happy with him going into this race. He gets in with a good weight with Gryllsy (Craig Grylls) on and I am expecting him to go well.”

A day prior, Patterson will have just the one runner at his home meeting at New Plymouth, in-form gelding Illustrious (NZ) (Eminent) in the ITM Interprovincial Saturday 5^th September 2026 (1400m).

The son of Eminent has won and finished runner-up in his two starts this preparation, and Patterson expects him to continue his purple patch of from this weekend.

“He has drawn 11 of 11 in the last race and Lemmy (Douglas) is back on the flat and gets two kilos off him,” Patterson said. “The horse has done nothing wrong this time in and I can’t see why he can’t go another good race. Him and Jaeger galloped at Hawera on Tuesday and galloped super together. I expect a bold run from him.”

Meanwhile, Patterson is excited about the spring ahead, for which he is building a strong arsenal.

A few of his stable’s leading lights trialled at Foxton last week, including Group One winner One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One), Group Two winner Ultimate Habit (NZ) (Embellish), and Group Two performer Belles Beau (NZ) (Iffraaj), and he is looking forward to them resuming in the coming month.

“Whether One Bold Cat is going to be matching weight-for-age level, time will tell this time around, but he is at the top of the weights in the handicaps so we are going to find nice handicaps for him probably and try and get a claim off him,” Patterson said.

“Ultimate Habit is going to kick-off a month away at Te Rapa in a 75 1400, and then she will go to the Taranaki Breeders’ (Gr.3, 1400m) and hopefully down to the TAB Mile (Gr.3, 1600m).

“Belles Beau will trial again on Tuesday and he will kick-off at Wanganui on the 29^th, and he will tell us where he is going from there.”

Patterson is also excited about the prospects of three-year-old colt Ronaldo (NZ) (Ribchester), with the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November firmly in the crosshairs.

“Ronaldo is coming up super, he looks amazing,” Patterson said. “He is a big, strong colt now and he is definitely heading to Christchurch for the 2000 Guineas, and I am very excited about him this spring, he is a really exciting horse.

“He will head to Te Rapa at the end of September and he will have two runs into the 2000 Guineas.”  - Joshua Smith

Nicconi County shooting for four straight

Nicconi County (Nicconi) has been in a purple patch of form over winter and will bid to extend his winning streak to four when he heads to Ruakaka on Saturday.

The Bob and Jenny Vance-trained eight-year-old kicked off his winning run at Ellerslie in June before posting back-to-back victories at Ruakaka, all over 1200m.

Bob Vance said his charge has appreciated the forgiving footing at the Northland venue, which has been reflected in his recent performances.

“He has done everything right and we are quite happy with him,” he said.

“He really needs the sting out of the track. Over the summer he was just jarring up a bit on the firm tracks. We gave him a break and the give in the track up there is perfect for him.”

The son of Nicconi is a dual acceptor for the Gallagher Insurance Bream Sprint (1100m) and Shane Batten Electrical Bream Bay Cup (1400m), and Vance is leaning towards the latter, where he will carry 4.5kg less and jump from an inside alley.

“He will probably go to the 1400m because he has drawn two and there is a bit of pace in the race, so he will probably get a trail,” he said. “I don’t think the race is super strong and he is going well enough to win an Open.”

With spring racing around the corner, Vance said Nicconi County will likely have one more run before heading for a spell.

“He has been up for quite a while, even though he did have a break over Christmas, and he needs the sting out of the track,” he said.

Vance will also head north with Double Take (Declaration Of War), who will line-up in the Ruakaka Beach front Motel (1600m).

“It is probably a bit short for him,” Vance said. “1600m is not really his distance but you have got to get these runs under their belt before he goes up over 2100m. I expect he will improve from the run.”

Vance has made his last couple of trips to Ruakaka with Josh King, his daughter Maija Vance’s partner, but this weekend he will make the trip alone, with King sidelined with a broken foot.

“He fell off a horse and has broken his foot and is hobbling around in a moon boot,” Vance said. “He is having an operation on his foot next Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, the Vances have recently welcomed the addition of Steely Man (NZ) (Embellish) to their barn. Owned by harness racing trainer John Dickie, the Embellish gelding has been a solid performer on the track, winning two races to date and more than $140,000 in prizemoney.

“He ran some really good races last year and he is pretty competitive,” Vance said. “Even though he has only won two races, he has got a bit of stake money.

“John Dickie had him in work for a month at his place and we have had him in work for about two weeks, so he is a fair way off yet. We will just go through the grades with him and work our way up.” - Joshua Smith

West hoping winning Woodville run continues

The last time Te Aroha trainer Sarah West ventured south to Woodville, she came home a winner, and she is hoping she can replicate that feat this weekend.

Grey gelding Juwala (NZ) (Reliable Man) gave West her first win as a trainer when winning at the Tararua venue last month, and he will face a sterner test on Sunday when he lines-up against some of the country’s finest jumpers in the One Eye Ota Open Hurdle (3000m).

Since his maiden hurdle win, Juwala acquitted himself in open hurdle company when placing over 3100m at his home track a fortnight later, and pleased West with a game run on the flat over 2100m at Te Rapa last Saturday.

“I was really happy with him (at Te Rapa), it was a bit of a step up for him and he performed well,” West said. “It will be another step up again on Sunday, but he has proved he is ready to be there, so we will give him the opportunity.

“We thought we may as well go back (to Woodville). It is supposed to rain a bit and he quite likes the wet.”

Some loftier targets could be instore for the son of Reliable Man if he performs well this weekend, but West is keeping her feet on the ground and said the horse’s welfare comes first.

“It is only his first season (jumping), but as long as he is happy and racing well, we will keep going,” she said.

One of his rivals on Sunday will be promising jumper Weneedashock (NZ) (Shocking), and West will be keeping a close eye on him after recently welcoming his full-sister, Loopy Farooki (NZ) (Shocking), to her racing team.

“She is a full to Weneedashock, so I am looking forward to seeing how he goes and if she can live up to his potential,” she said.

A competitive showjumper, West has also added another horse to that team, retired Group One winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau).

West used to strap the son of Brazen Beau when she worked for Te Akau Racing, and she welcomed him back after several of his big wins as a two and three-year-old, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).

“We ended up getting him about three weeks ago,” West said. “We saw him on Facebook and I have fond memories of him, so we thought, ‘why not?’, he can have a good life at our place.

“I will see how he goes hunting and if he wants to do some showjumping there is a spot on the truck for him. I believe he has done a little bit of hunting and trekking. He has been retired for about a year and the guys who had him in the South Island did a little bit with him.”

West is building a healthy collection of off the track thoroughbreds, with former Te Akau gelding Midnight Blue (So You Think) also in her care.

The now 10-year-old gelding won the Gr.3 Perth Cup (2400m) and Listed Ascot Gold Cup (1800m) in Western Australia for trainers Grant and Alana Williams before joining Te Akau Racing, for whom he won the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m).

“I have had him since Christmas time,” West said. “He is my hunter and an extra horse when we want to do something fun." - Joshua Smith