Versatile performer Pacifico (NZ) (Ardrossan) has hit a rich vein of form and another top showing on Saturday will earn him a crack at a richer winter prize.
The son of Ardrossan will shoot for his fourth win on the bounce in the UBP Te Awamutu Cup (1600m) at Te Rapa with a return in the mix later this month for The Callinan Family Taumarunui Cup (2200m).
Trainer Andrew Forsman can’t fault the four-year-old and will also be chasing success across the Tasman with Prochester (NZ) (Proisir) in the Mahogany Challenge Final (2600m) at Flemington.
Pacifico posted consecutive victories over 1600m at Te Aroha and Tauranga before he again made all the running to win last Saturday’s Whangarei Gold Cup (2100m).
“A lot is down to maturity and he’s going great now, when he’s in form and we can find races for him most weeks there’s no reason not to go again,” Forsman said.
“He hasn’t raced at Te Rapa for nearly a year, that was when he was a Rating 65 horse and he’s a different proposition now and that’s why we want to start him in this race.
“There’s the possibility of running him in the Taumarunui Cup, so we just want to see how he goes on the course.”
To be ridden by two-kilogram claimer Rihaan Goyaram, who has won on the gelding before, Pacifico has enjoyed a quiet lead-up.
“It’s on our doorstep and we haven’t had to do much with him, he’s a fit horse and lines up another solid chance,” Forsman said.
Prochester showed his staying quality when third in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m) before he relocated to Flemington.
“The first run he had over there in the St Leger (Listed, 2800m) was a bit further and he didn’t quite run it out, but he’s going better now than he was going into that race,” Forsman said.
“The distance should be fine on Saturday and there’s a bit of a tail to the race and that helps.
“The track should be fine for him, he gets through a little bit of cut in the ground so it should be ideal.”
The son of Proisir finished runner-up to race rival Shockletz last month before an unplaced effort.
“The key to him is getting out into the clear and two starts back at Flemington he did that, and he was able to have a crack at them,” Forsman said.
“He never really let down that well last time among horses, he got left a bit flat-footed early in the sprint home and he’s far happier out in the clear.
“He needs momentum to build into it so hopefully Matt (Cartwright) can get a soft run early and then get him off the rail and rolling to make his run a bit sooner than most.”
Forsman’s other runner at the weekend is Milanese in the Quick Count Maiden (2100m) at Tauranga on Sunday.
Like Pacifico, she is raced by breeder Jomara Bloodstock with the Zed four-year-old coming off a fourth placing at Matamata over a mile.
“She’s improving and she’s had a couple of fitness runs and should hopefully finish in the top three or four to justify pressing on with,” Forsman said.