Saturday’s Stout Roofing (1200m) was the second year in a row that Erin Hocquard has used a May meeting at Trentham as a first-up assignment for Spencer (NZ) (Derryn), and the Waverley trainer’s stable star has struck gold on both of those occasions.
A Rating 75 sprint at Trentham on May 25 provided a winning start to Spencer’s campaign last winter, and the son of Derryn went on to collect another three wins, including the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in October. He was also runner-up in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m).
An unplaced finish in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on October 27 was Spencer’s last raceday appearance for six months, but he warmed up for Saturday’s return with a bold trial win over 1000m at Otaki on April 15.
The five-year-old was allotted a testing topweight of 61kg on Saturday, but Hocquard booked in-form apprentice jockey Amber Riddell and reduced that impost to 58kg.
After settling in third behind Bold Belle (NZ) (The Bold One) and Tavis Court (NZ) (Tavistock) through the early stages of the $40,000 sprint, Riddell got Spencer into clear air out wide at the top of the home straight. The classy gelding took care of the rest, quickening stylishly to take command and going on to win by a length and a quarter from the strong-finishing Meritable (Snitzel).
“He’s pretty happy with himself at the moment and he knows he’s good,” Hocquard said. “Amber rode him well and he travelled nicely in behind them before quickening in the straight.
“He had a bit of weight to carry today, but I thought he’d handle that okay because he carries me around every day.
“This is a good way to start what could be a big preparation. We’ve got the Opunake Cup and a few other options to look at, and I hope we might even be able to get him all the way through to the Spring Carnival.
“He’s a pretty easy horse to manage, apart from being a bit of a handful at times. If we pick out the right races for him, he’s a pretty good horse to have around.” Hocquard’s former employer Aidan Schumacher bred and races Spencer in partnership with his brother Kieran. Spencer has now had 20 starts for seven wins, four placings and $242,855 in stakes.