Wood records memorable Pakuranga Hunt Cup double
Chris Wood won the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4300m) as a jockey in 1980 aboard Le Roy (NZ) (Sovereign Ruler), and 46 years on he matched that feat as a trainer courtesy of Smug (NZ) (Complacent) in Thursday’s The Valley Toyota-sponsored feature.
The nine-year-old son of Complacent took winning form into the race, having been victorious in an open steeplechase at Woodville last month, but jumped the fourth equal favourite at $7.90, alongside the Kevin Myers-trained Prince Turbo (NZ) (Alamosa).
Outsider Zee Heights (NZ) (Zed) took up pace making duties for much for the journey, with race favourite Duke Of Plumpton (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) stalking his rivals from the back of the pack, while Smug was tucked in just behind the speed.
Heading down the back straight for the final time, Duke Of Plumpton was put into the race by jockey Hamish McNeill and he ranged up alongside the leaders, entering a three-way duel with Zee Heights and Brucie (NZ) (Raise The Flag), and the trio quickly opened up on their rivals.
Despite being left flat-footed, jockey Michael Roustoby was resolute and kept working on Smug, while Duke Of Plumpton created a length buffer on Zee Heights as they entered the home straight.
Zee Heights continued to rally, while Smug made up a big deficit out wide and powered home to score by 2-1/4 lengths over Zee Heights, with a further 1-1/2 lengths back to Duke Of Plumpton in third.
Roustoby was chuffed with the win and said Smug is a superb jumper who benefited from the meeting being postponed from last Saturday because of heavy rain.
“He is not very quick on the flat, he is still a maiden, but through the air he makes up two or three lengths, so you have just got to rely on his jump,” Roustoby said. “It was very satisfying.
“He hates it when it is really heavy, and it has always been heavy here. With the recent inclement weather and it being postponed, it worked in our favour. I walked the track earlier and it was a (Soft)7 or Heavy(8), so there was no excuse today.”
The victory proved to be very sentimental for Wood, who reflected on his success in the race as a jockey.
“It is a race that we have been after for a long time,” he said. “I won it in 1980 (as a jockey), so it is pretty cool to be here and pick it up.”
Wood was proud of Smug’s fighting qualities to claw back and get the win.
“He has just kept on improving,” Wood said. “He hasn’t had a lot of luck here and the track has been pretty bottomless at times he has been here and today was reasonable footing and Michael didn’t give up on him and the horse kept coming.”
Wood was also rapt to get the victory for his loyal owners, Ron and Maryanne Thompson.
“He has some great owners in Ron and Maryanne,” Wood said. “Ron has had a horse in work every month of his life since he was 20 years old, he is now 82. He has spent a lot of money, is a champion guy, and they are great people to train for.
“They have stuck by this horse. We thought he was a Derby horse when he was a young horse, but that didn’t come to fruition, but today it has, so it is pretty cool.”
Wood is now looking forward to returning to Te Aroha in a fortnight where Smug will take on the marathon test of the Ben and Ryan Foote Racing Great New Zealand Steeplechase (6200m).
“I am pretty sure he is a horse that will get that journey, but you don’t know until you try,” he said. “He is a real staying horse and he does give 100 percent.” - Joshua Smith
Brosnans quinella Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle
Matamata trainers Peter and Jessica Brosnan scored the perfect result at Te Aroha on Thursday when they quinellaed the Vet Associates Equine Pakuranga Hunt Open Hurdle (3100m) with Squire (NZ) (Savile Row) and Jake (NZ) (War Decree).
Squire, who finished runner-up in the race last year behind Hill Of Kings (NZ) (Time Test), had been unplaced since winning an open hurdle at Te Rapa in June, but he had the respect of punters, who backed him into a $4.40 second favourite, alongside Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock), in a market headed by Wanganui visitor Happy Star (NZ) (Fabulous) at $3.40.
Australian-based French jockey Luca Remondet was having his first ride in New Zealand aboard Squire, and he ensured he kept his charge handy throughout, sitting on the flank of pacemaker Dictation.
The pair continued their duel into the home straight, however, Squire leapt the second to last fence beautifully and began to build an advantage on his foe, eventually running out a comfortable victor, 4-1/2 lengths to the better of his stablemate Jake, who closed well late, with a further 3-3/4 lengths back to Dictation in third.
Remondet was rapt with his perfect start in New Zealand, and he was full of praise for his mount.
“He is a lovely horse and I can’t wait to ride him again,” he said.
Jessica Brosnan was confident of a bold showing from Squire, with the heavy track conditions being her only concern.
“We were pretty confident for today, but we were a bit worried about this track a few days later (after Heavy rain), but we didn’t have to worry about it,” she said.
“He (Squire) got a bit of a freshen-up and he doesn’t like Woodville (where he finished sixth in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdle in July). He comes right at this time of year.”
Brosnan was also pleased with Jake’s runner-up result.
“Jake loves Te Aroha and he has been getting plenty of farm work,” she said.
Squire has now won four of his nine hurdle starts, adding to his two victories on the flat, and he has earned just shy of $165,000 in prizemoney.
The Brosnans were back in the winner’s stall two races later when Remondet partnered Rocem (NZ) (El Roca) to victory in The Great New Zealand Jumps Carnival 18 & 20 September Maiden Steeplechase (3600m).
“We chucked her in to give Luca a ride around the course before the next chase (Pakuranga Hunt Cup),” Jessica Brosnan said. “She has been going alright races, she has just been a little bit unlucky.
“She got put in the race today and we thought she was pretty bang on. I think Luca rode a good race.” - Joshua Smith
Tuxedo primed for strong Proisir performance
The booking of a champion rider combined with the inside gate and a smooth preparation has Shaune Ritchie confident that Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) will be in the frame in Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.
The Cambridge trainer, who operates in partnership with Colm Murray, will have the services of Opie Bosson and is expecting a bold showing from the combination at the weekend.
“Tuxedo’s fantastic, Opie rode him at the trials and then at the gallops at Ellerslie and he’s impressed. If he’s happy then I’m happy,” Ritchie said.
“He’s certainly a lot stronger animal than last year and he’s progressed well.
“He’s got a good record fresh and he’s drawn the barrier to get a very economical trip. Hopefully he can use the gate, but I will leave that entirely in Opie’s hands.”
While more than pleased with Tuxedo’s build-up, there’s a healthy respect for the top two in the market over a distance short of the Tivaci gelding’s best.
“The fact of the matter is that he doesn’t have the same turn of foot over 1400m as Well Written (Written Tycoon) or Alabama Lass (Alabama Express), but what he will get is a soft run behind them,” Ritchie said.
“You’d like to think that he will be hitting the line off an economical trip better than most of the others.”
Ritchie’s ultimate goal with Tuxedo is a crack at the A$2 million Gr.3 Five Diamonds (1800m), but his pathway isn’t locked and loaded with a start in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) yet to be confirmed.
“We will closely monitor the situation at Hastings, personally I’m a long way from convinced that it’s the track we want to be running on second-up,” Ritchie said.
“If I’m wrong and they come up with a great track then wonderful, we’ll certainly go there but second-up on a heavy track would be unacceptable and then he’d almost certainly go straight to Australia.”
The Five Diamonds at Rosehill on November 7 is seen as the perfect target for Tuxedo.
“It’s a good race for him, it’s for five-year-olds only and you avoid the international horses who go to Melbourne and top horses like Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), it’s a great option for a horse like Tuxedo,” Ritchie said.
“If the track is good then he’ll run in the Howden Mile, and we’ll make a decision from there based on his New Zealand weight-for-age form as to whether we go and run in the Prelude and then the Five Diamonds.
“There’s also the option of the Livamol (Gr.1, 2040m) and then go over for the Five Diamonds fresh.”
Ritchie also believes Saturday’s Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1200m) presents a good chance for Summer Schemer (Dirty Work) to collect black type.
“She’s primed to run a cheeky race, she was a little vulnerable fitness-wise first-up and the firmer the going the better for her,” he said.
“She looks to be the speed influence and if she can get a soft sectional somewhere then I think she’s a great place chance.”
The stable also has Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in the Myracehorse Handicap (1300m) and Gate Crashers (NZ) (Almanzor) in the Horizon By Skycity Handicap (1600m).
“Tajana is a high quality three-year-old filly from last season and up until this week she’s been working well with Tuxedo,” Ritchie said.
“Certainly, on her trackwork and work load she’s ready to go well fresh and won first-up at Counties earlier in the year.
“Gate Crashers doesn’t get competitive until he gets over further, but he has certainly come back in superb order and one to follow over more ground.” - Paul Vettise
Blind Raise ready to show his hand at Sandown
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are hoping promising New Zealand-bred three-year-old Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) can lay the foundations for a Group One spring campaign when he resumes in Saturday’s Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) at Sandown.
The son of Ace High created a strong impression during his first preparation, winning his first two starts before his unbeaten record came to an end in the Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
Blind Raise made a winning debut over 1400m at Sandown in April before taking an immediate step up to stakes company, producing an impressive two-length victory in the Listed ANZAC Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
He subsequently headed north to Queensland, where he finished ninth in the BRC Sires’ Produce, after which Busuttin and Young elected to spell the gelding.
“He had a month off up there in Queensland, and then he came straight back into work,” Busuttin said.
“He has trialled up well. Just the one trial. We were initially going to give him a couple of trials and start him in the Michael Moroney Stakes, but with the McKenzie Stakes jumping out at the 1300m at Sandown, I thought it was a nice race for him.
“There are a couple of nice ones to beat. The Freedman horse looks very progressive, but we would be very disappointed if he is not fighting out the finish.
“He is going to naturally improve as he gets out over further later on, however he is sharp enough and forward enough that he will be hard to beat.”
Blind Raise will be ridden by Blake Shinn and has drawn barrier four in the nine-horse field, with the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Wolf Gap (Palace Pier) ($6) and the Danny O’Brien prepared Closer To Free (Street Boss) ($2.10) among his opposition.
A strong start to his campaign could put Blind Raise on a path towards two of the major three-year-old features later in the spring.
“In a perfect world, if he performs first and second-up, the Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) could be on the agenda,” Busuttin said.
Blind Raise was a $70,000 purchase by Busuttin Young Racing from The Oaks Stud’s draft at the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Bred by The Oaks Stud, he is out of the Darci Brahma mare Away Cruising, a daughter of outstanding seven-time Group One winner Seachange (NZ).
The stable will also be represented at Sandown by another progressive New Zealand-bred three-year-old in Cignetti (NZ) (Super Seth), who tackles The Valley @ Sandown Handicap (1500m).
The son of Super Seth returned with an impressive maiden victory over 1400m at Sale last month, overcoming a wide barrier before racing prominently and drawing clear to score by 1.75 lengths.
Cignetti had shown promise in two starts as a juvenile, finishing third on debut at Pakenham before taking on Blind Raise in the ANZAC Day Stakes at Flemington, where he finished fifth after setting the pace.
“I think he probably gets out over a bit further later in the spring,” Busuttin said.
“I think he is progressive. It looks a nice race for him, all similar horses that have won their maidens.”
Blake Shinn retains the ride on Cignetti, who will jump from barrier two. - NZ Racing Desk
NZ Racing Desk
HKJC
Joshua Smith
🎥 Did you see?
Barrier Draw for The NZB Open Championship, racing this Saturday, 5 September at Selangor Turf Club.
