It was a case of déjà vu for trainer Robbie Patterson with The Dirty Dee’s (NZ) (Derryn) runner-up performance in the Graham’s Painters 1400 at Trentham on Saturday.
It was very similar to former stablemate Leica Lucy’s (NZ) (Derryn) run in the same race last year, with both fillies hampered at the top of the straight before being pipped on the outside in the concluding stages.
While frustrated The Dirty Dee had an obstructed run, Patterson is hoping it is a good omen, given Leica Lucy went on to record five consecutive stakes victories, culminating in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March.
“That (check) took the momentum right out of her, it would have cost her the race,” Patterson said.
“The same thing happened in the same spot (with Leica Lucy), so hopefully that’s an omen.
“I think going forward, the further she goes the better she will get. She was just off the nickel around the side, which is just telling us that she wants further.”
The daughter of Derryn will step up to a mile in a fortnight to contest the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, won last year by Leica Lucy, and she will continue to follow the same blueprint laid out by her former stablemate last season.
“She has pulled up well from it so we will push forward to the Eulogy in two weeks,” Patterson said.
Patterson’s disappointment was quickly quashed a race later when his promising four-year-old Thorax (NZ) (Ribchester) extended his unbeaten streak to two when taking out the JR & N Berkett 1300 in a tight finish.
Patterson was proud of his gelding’s effort, and he is looking forward to returning to Trentham with him next month to contest another MAAT race over 1200m.
“He really toughed it out,” Patterson said. “He is the sort of horse that I don’t think he is ever going to win races by much, he waits for them and yesterday he really dug in when that horse (runner-up Classy Brahma) got to him. He is an exciting horse.
“He gets to run in a special maiden again on the 3rd of January. He will go up 1.5kg and I may have to claim off him, and I might put blinkers on him this time just to sharpen him up a little bit back to 1200m.”
Meanwhile, Patterson was pleased with the respective fifth placed efforts of One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One) and Belles Beau (NZ) (Iffraaj) in the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) and Gr.3 Taylor Property Plus Spring Sprint (1400m).
“One Bold Cat and Belles Beau have come through their runs super,” Patterson said. “One Bold Cat ran on really strong and Belles Beau just got too far out of his ground but made great ground late.
“One Bold Cat will step up now and will probably go to the Listed 2200m (Marton Cup) on the 3rd of January and into a 2100m race (Gr.3 Trentham Stakes) at Trentham and then the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m).
“Belles Beau will go to the Manawatu Challenge Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) in two weeks’ time. Going forward, he is ready to step up to a mile where he is going to be a lot more effective.”