Patterson shines at Awapuni

[Wandering Eyes]

Uraskyfullastars (NZ) (Tarzino) continued to shine at Awapuni on Saturday when taking out the BJW Motors LTD 1400.

It was the second win from just three starts for the daughter of Tarzino, having placed on debut after a luckless run.

“She should have won her first start, she got held up behind a slow one, but she duly obliged in her next start,” trainer Robbie Patterson said.

“Yesterday was an incredible performance. Gryllsy (Craig Grylls, jockey) said she never handled the track (Heavy10) at all and it wasn’t until she got into clear air and better ground that she took off.

“Going forward she is a pretty exciting prospect.”

The New Plymouth horseman said he has always had time for the three-year-old filly and he is hoping she can add a third scalp to her record before freshening for late summer targets.

“She has always shown a lot, she has just had her few little quirks,” Patterson said.

“She is starting to iron them out and she will now go to a special maiden race at New Plymouth in a couple of weeks. Going back to maiden grade fits in nicely and then we will back off her a bit.

“With time, I think she will make a really nice staying mare.”

Patterson believes the rising four-year-old will acquit herself well at stakes level and will likely give her an opportunity to add some black-type to her page early next year.

“I would like to think we could get to a Cuddle Stakes (Gr.3, 1600m) in the autumn,” he said.

“She is only a baby and is still maturing, so we will just go through the grades and give her a bit of time, which she needs.

“We will probably keep her away from the really hard tracks in the summer, but in saying that, she does like better ground.”

Later on the card, Patterson was delighted to see Conor O’Ceirin (NZ) (Dial A Prayer) back in winning form after taking out the Evans Henderson Woodbridge Barristers & Solicitors 1400.

“It was great for the owner, Wayne Keenan, he puts a lot of money into the industry, so it was great for him to get that win yesterday,” Patterson said.

It has been a fruitful season for the six-year-old gelding, having won three and placed in five of his 14 starts this term, including running third in the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham in January.

Patterson is hoping he can add a stakes victory to his haul when he heads to his home track later this month to contest the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m).

“Now we can go into the Opunake Cup with a bit of confidence,” he said. “He is a very versatile horse and I am hoping he is peaking for the Opunake Cup and Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m).”

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