WOOD QUARTET SHARPENED FOR TE RAPA

[Chief Stipe]

Pacorus will be one of four runners for trainer Chris Wood at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Cambridge trainer Chris Wood has four runners engaged at the Waikato Racing Club’s meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday, headlined by nine-time race winner Parcorus. 

The seven-year-old gelding has been disappointing in three runs this preparation, but Wood is hoping some alternative therapy might be able to get him back on track. 

“He hasn’t really fired this time in to be honest,” Wood said. “But I’ve had a little bit of acupuncture work done on him this week and he just had a few little niggles so hopefully that helps things.

“I am happy with him condition wise, his fitness should be good, and he has won races at Te Rapa before so hopefully he can put his best foot forward on Saturday.

“I haven’t done acupuncture before, but I’ve just found a new lady around Cambridge who is very good, and she treated quite a few of mine on Tuesday, so we will see what happens.”

The son of Tavistock is the top-rated horse in the BGP Battlers Cup (2200m), but he will receive weight relief with two kilogram claimer Darren Danis booked for the ride.

Another runner to have received acupuncture treatment this week is last start winner Wooden Edge who contests the Staphanos @ Novara Park (1600m).

“He shouldn’t be too far away again on Saturday,” Wood said.

“He’s come through that last run well and he’s just continued with a little bit of schooling to keep him up to the mark, so hopefully he puts his best foot forward.

“It was good to see him return to form last start and show well and truly what he’s capable of.”

Wood will also be represented by Mr Incredibull in the Signature Homes (1400m), an impressive maiden winner at Waipa last month, but he could only muster a seventh at Te Aroha last start on the heavy11 surface.

“He didn’t go so good last start,” Wood said. “He got down on the inside in the worst of the ground and he didn’t really cope with it, so Te Rapa should be a little bit looser on Saturday and he should be able to handle that alright.”

Wood’s final runner on Saturday, three-year-old Voltaire Secret, is making his race debut after seven trials.

“He’s stumped me a little bit because he’s been slow to mature,” Wood said.

“He will have his first start with blinkers and a tongue tie on, which are things I think he needs.

“But he’s worked up nicely and I know he’ll handle the wet track.”

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