Wheeler plans double attack on Taranaki Cup
BY TONY BIRD
Relevant offers
Racing
John Wheeler plans lining up two runners in the $80,000 Taranaki Cup (2000m) at New Plymouth on Saturday.
The leading New Plymouth trainer yesterday confirmed stablemates Pentathon and Stand Tall would line up in the Hooker Pacific-sponsored group three 2000m feature race at the Taranaki Thoroughbred Racing premier raceday.
Both horses are being aimed towards a start in the $1 million Stella Artois Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie on March 10.
Pentathon, winner of the 2006 New Zealand Cup, 3200m, has yet to fire in five starts this campaign, finishing 15th of 18 at the races last time in the 2010 Wellington Cup (2400m).
Wheeler said he'd had a few little problems with the horse this preparation and was having trouble getting him to peak fitness.
"I'm not too worried about it, he's going pretty well at the moment. The racing's improved him."
Stand Tall also contested the Wellington Cup, finishing midfield after a bold run for second in the Trentham Stakes a week before.
Wheeler said the firmer track in the Wellington Cup was against the horse.
"He prefers a dig in the track."
Wheeler is expecting better efforts from both horses on Saturday than their previous outings.
"They should be both right there, but I don't think it's a race that Pentathon can win, but in saying that he's getting to a place in the weights where those sort of races are more winnable for him.
"Both horses are pretty well, so I'm pretty happy."
Wheeler will be represented in the Group Three $70,000 Waikato Stud 2YO Classic by Stravanaki.
He expects the son of Stravinsky to be suited by the 1200m distance.
Wheeler welcomed the return to winning form of one of last season's leading three year-old fillies Juice and promising stayer The Grogoch at Te Rapa and Awapuni respectively on Saturday.
The Grogoch won first up from a spell at Awapuni early last December, but had failed to live up to the form in subsequent starts at Stratford and Trentham.
His all-the-way victory over 2100m in the hands of Kelly Myers on Saturday showed the horse's latest campaign was back on track.
"His first win back probably took the edge off him a bit, but over ground he's a better horse," Wheeler said.
The Grogoch holds an Auckland Cup nomination, but Wheeler was still tossing up his options yesterday as to whether he would make a second payment for the horse today.
Juice was scoring her first victory since May last year when successful in the listed Rotorua Stakes (1400m) at Te Aroha.
Wheeler said Juice had been racing like she was looking for more ground this campaign, and got that when winning over 2000m at Te Rapa.
"She's been right on her game the whole time and [the win] was pretty much expected."
Plans for The Grogoch and Juice will see them race next on Matamata Breeders Stakes day at Matamata on Saturday week. Juice's target is the listed $50,000 Stanley Group TRAC Stakes (2000m), while The Grogoch is going for the rating 80 2000m event.
- © Fairfax NZ News
