Pukekohe trainer Rudy Liefting will make the long trek down State Highway One with a couple of his jumpers this week to target Trentham’s Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase Day on Saturday.
His charge will be led by nine-year-old gelding Mont Ventoux in the Aztech Engineering Wellington Hurdle (3200m), with the son of Nom du Jeu looking to improve on his last-start third placing in the Waikato Hurdle (3200m).
“His last start third was encouraging,” Liefting said. “I have really got to tackle the big ones because he is up in the ratings.”
Liefting is wary of a few of his rivals this weekend, but is confident his charge will acquit himself well.
“He has beaten Nedwin home in the Northern last year and his form is around Nedwin. Verry Flash looks a good chance, but it’s jumping, so anything can happen,” he said.
“We will be looking to get into a nice rhythm and staying out of trouble.
“It won’t be easy, but like I said to the owners, if we keep turning up and have him fit and ready, maybe one day the cards will fall our way.”
Mont Ventoux will be joined on the float trip south by stablemate Renegade Fighter, who will contest the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (4900m).
Liefting admitted to being disappointed with the 10-year-old’s fourth placed performance in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) and is looking for an improved showing this weekend.
“There’s a little bit of distance to make up from the winner. He was a shade disappointing, I thought he could finish a touch closer,” he said.
“They really clapped on the pace and I think they left him a bit flat footed in the last round. We lost a few lengths when we had to get around The Cossack.
“He is thereabouts, and he is weighing in those big ones. There are two hotshots in there, but third is anybody’s.”
Liefting’s ultimate goal with the pair is a trip to Christchurch in August for Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing, with the $100,000 and $200,000 respective purses of the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 135th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) and Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge 150th Grand National Steeplechase (5600m), the major drawcards.
“I am going to take them both to Riccarton,” he said. “They are getting older, and the money is up, so we better have a go just in case it is our lucky day.”
Following Saturday, Liefting is looking to return to the Central Districts for Mont Ventoux’s final lead-in run to the Grand National but has yet to decide what avenue he will pursue with Renegade Fighter.
“Woodville is the plan,” Liefting said. “Because they put up chase fences, I might run Mont Ventoux in the steeplechase there just to keep his rating down. He will be on the minimum if he can get into the big race.
“I am not quite sure about the other bloke, I don’t really want to run two horses together. But following Woodville we will return to Auckland and fly them down to Christchurch.”