Cat set for bold play in Mufhasa Classic

[Wandering Eyes]

Robbie Patterson is confident One Bold Cat(NZ) (The Bold One) can be a major player this weekend in his pursuit for another top-flight title.

The New Plymouth trainer has the six-year-old purring ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham and clearly rates him as his top seed in the weight-for-age feature.

Stablemate Puntura(NZ) (Vespa) will also take his place, but time is ticking on the son on the seven-year-old’s career after he struggled for form in the spring.

By contrast, One Bold Cat powered home from the back of the field to win the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and then ran sixth in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before a break.

“He’s freshened nicely and he’s had a couple of jump-outs and a trial, so I’ve given him plenty,” Patterson said.

“He’s going super and from his gate (two), he’ll be sitting right behind the pace I’d imagine.”

Craig Grylls will be aboard One Bold Cat while Mereana Hudson will take the reins on Puntura, who finished among the tailenders in the Arrowfield and the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at his last two appearances.

“Puntura is a bit big in condition and he’ll have to go back from the draw (11) and it will be tempo related as to where he’ll finish,” Patterson said.

“There’s not many races we can put him in, so his days are numbered. If he doesn’t come up in his next start or two, he’ll be retired for sure.”

Puntura has been an outstanding servant of the stable with 11 victories from 38 appearances and has banked more than $770,000.

“He won a Group Three, a Group Two and a Group One in succession and not many can do that, we won’t be flogging him,” Patterson said.

He was referring to his victories in last season’s Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m), Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Thorndon Mile (1600m).

Patterson also fancies his chances earlier on the Trentham card with Leica Lucy(NZ) (Derryn) (Aztech Engineering 3YO, 1400m) and Last Souvenir(NZ) (Darci Brahma) (Jennian Homes Wellington, 1400m).

Derryn filly Leica Lucy was untroubled to win on debut on her home track last month and is a possible future Group One contender.

“I really like her, she won really well first-up and is going to get up over ground, so she’ll be attacking the line again,” Patterson said.

“We had given her a quiet trial and she had showed a lot as a two-year-old, but she got a bone chip and had that taken out, which was probably the best thing for her.

“It gave her more time and she’s just a gorgeous animal, she relaxes beautifully and I can see her on an Oaks path if everything goes right.”

Joe Doyle will retain the ride on Leica Lucy and Grylls will also combine with Darci Brahma’s son Last Souvenir, who burned home for second on his home turf at the first time of asking.

“He ran second first-up and his mum is a half-sister to So You Think, he’s got a lot going for him,” Patterson said.

“He came from last around Taranaki which is very hard to do for a big horse. He will go through the grades pretty quickly.”

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