Having become the most improved galloper in the north this season, the Tony Pike-trained Agera (NZ) (Complacent) may be given his chance at racing’s elite level in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m).
The Trentham weight-for-age feature on December 6 has been penciled in by connections and any continuation of the wet weather may well confirm the mission.
After winning just two of his 18 starts up to the end of last season, Agera has been a revelation over the past four months, beginning with a Cambridge Polytrack double in August.
He followed that with an open 1600m win at Te Rapa in September, then his first stakes win in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) in October. Two weeks later he added the Feilding Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau and hit a career-high in last Saturday’s Gr. 2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m).
In a windfall that could not have been predicted at the start of the season, those six wins from eight starts have netted the Complacent six-year-old’s Hong Kong owners just under $260,000 to add to his previous $80,000 in earnings.
“It’s quite incredible how much he’s improved this campaign, from being a handy horse to one that’s now stringing them together all the way up to weight-for-age,” Pike said.
“His wins in the Matamata and Feilding Cups have put him at the top of the qualifying order for the Taupo Cup (2000m), which has a stake of $100,000 as well as the $50,000 Prezzy Card bonus, so that’s an obvious target in late December.
“Looking at how to get him there, the TAB Mile at Trentham three weeks before would work well time-wise, so it’s a possibility but very much weather-dependent.”
The pre-nominations market for the TAB Mile has La Crique, Legarto and Waitak equal $4.50 favourites, while Agera is on the fifth line of betting at $14.
In the meantime, Pike’s focus this weekend will be on the Counties Cup meeting at Pukekohe Park, where he has five runners headed by recent Ellerslie two-year-old debut winner Harvey Wallbanger in the Listed Counties Challenge (1100m).
“His trial win was really good and he was very good at Ellerslie the way he went about it, he was very professional,” Pike said of the son of former leading Australian two and three-year-old performer Home Affairs.
“He’s shown natural improvement since, his work on Saturday morning was very good, and from the draw (4) I expect him to be hard to beat.”
Pike’s day at Pukekohe starts in the Franklin Long Roofing 2100 with Maldini and High Country in the line-up.
“It’s the consolation race for the Rating 75 stayers and both of ours are good chances,” Pike said. “Maldini was unlucky (when fourth at Ellerslie) last time and she’s due a winning turn. High Country is hitting form and third-up he should be ready to step up.”
Last-start winner Thooza has a wide draw to contend with in the HR Fiskens & Sons 1400, which will be considered ahead of deciding on a start.
“She’s a mare I like and she’s come back much stronger as a four-year-old,” Pike said. “The wide gate is a possible issue and track conditions will also decide whether she runs.”
Pike’s team is rounded off by Pax Mundi in the Show By SkyCity 1600, in which she returns to the scene of her win in Rating 65 grade a fortnight ago.
“She was very dominant winning at Counties last time and even though she’s stepping up to a reasonably strong Rating 75, that was second-up and she’s got more improvement in her,” Pike said.