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A tilt at the Gr. 3 Waikato Times Gold Cup in December is the long-term target for Taranaki mare Porotene Park after she scored a comfortable win on her home track on the weekend.
The now four-year-old mare showed plenty of promise last season with stakes placings on two occasions behind South Island Filly of the Year, Madam Victoria and has come back a bigger and better model for her spring campaign.
“She showed plenty last year and really grew and put on a heap of condition during her break so we’ve slowly got her to racing trim and she showed what she is capable of on the weekend,” said trainer Robert Patterson.“The key on Saturday was the blinkers as she is such a relaxed galloper that she needs to be woken up a bit and the blinkers did that nicely.
“It was a pretty good effort as she was wide with cover most of the way and picked them up easily in the run home to beat a few that have good reputations.“There’s still improvement in her as her coat is probably a month away from turning completely but I’m pleased with where she is at right now.”
Patterson will keep the mare in her home territory for the time being before trekking further afield for richer spoils.“She will go to Hawera for the Taranaki Breeders Stakes in a fortnight. It’s on our back doorstep so we might as well have a go when she is on the up.
“Longer term I do fancy a crack at the Waikato Cup as she will be at her best at a middle distance and should get in on a very competitive weight if we can get her there.
“She’ll most likely need another win to make a field like that but I think she is more than capable of doing that.”