Town Cryer ready for Pukekohe stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Last start Group Three winner Town Cryer (NZ) (Tavistock) is ready to make another bold statement when she tackles the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) at Pukekohe on Tuesday.

The Roydon Bergerson-trained six-year-old mare upset the applecart somewhat at Hawera last month when defeating hot favourite Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), however for Bergerson it was the performance he had been expecting from his charge.

“She may have been a little lucky to get that last win against such a quality galloper as Prowess, but she did all the work out in front and was very strong to the line,” Bergerson said.

“I thought she deserved it and was a real statement as to how she has matured for this campaign.

“She has been a different horse in some respects and she has trained on brilliantly since then.

“In fact, she has been pretty full of herself as we have freshened her up and she will be ready to go on Tuesday.”

Bergerson is keen to see the daughter of Tavistock produce her best as he looks to enhance a career in the breeding barn further down the track with a potential Group One win.

“I’d like to see her in her normal racing pattern again, where she can be on the speed as that is when she is hardest to beat,” he said.

“She is as touch as old boots and very hard to get past when she gets that bloody-minded attitude.

“She also loves the wide open spaces so I expect her to relish the Pukekohe track.

“Safely through this one then the Group One mile at Trentham (TAB Classic Gr.1, 1600m) in early December is her main aim.

“If she can get some Group One black type on her record then she will be a very valuable mare for when she retires and begins a breeding career.”

Town Cryer is a daughter of former Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock and is out of the Volksraad mare The Speaker, a three-quarter sister to Gr.1 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Willy Smith who also finished runner-up in the 2008 Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie.

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