Promising mare Mary Louise will have the biggest test of her career when she heads to New Plymouth Raceway on Saturday.
The local galloper will have her first tilt at stakes company in the Group 3 Taranaki Cup (1800m) and trainer Robbie Paterson is hoping for a bold showing from the lightly-raced four-year-old.
“It is only her seventh start tomorrow and whatever she does she will improve on,” Patterson said.
“She has had a bit of a break between races but I am really happy with her.
“I'd say the rail will be off so we will just be going back (from barrier eight) and hopefully be following something like Self Obsession into the race and hopefully we are good enough.
“It is her biggest test to date and if she is competitive, she has got a pretty good future in front of her.
“There is the Manawatu Breeders' Stakes (Group 3) in March, a 2000m race for fillies and mares.”
Mary Louise is a daughter of The Bold One, and Patterson is developing a great association with the Grangewilliam Stud stallion, headlined by Group Three performer The Fearless One.
“My main owner owns The Bold One, so I have managed to get a few of them, which is quite good,” Patterson.
One Bold Cat is another of Patterson's runners by the stallion, and the gelding will also head to New Plymouth on Saturday to contest the Energy Vets Taranaki 1900.
“He has done really well since he raced last time. He loves the track and he loves a bit of off ground. He has been working really well so I expect a really good run,” Patterson said.
“Johno Benner's horse (Pride of Aspen) likes a bit of cut too so it will be competitive, but he will be right in it.”
Stablemate Memento will be first-up in the Taranaki Daily News SC Maiden (1400m) having pleased with his 1000m trial win at Foxton last month.
“He has got a tricky draw (12). He will go back from there and he will be hitting the line strong.
“Going forward he will end up a really nice stayer. His mother is a half to So You Think, so he has got a fair bit of pedigree on him.”
Patterson will also line-up last star placegetter Unleashed in the same race.
“I just don't want it to get any wetter for her. She raced well at Trentham the other day. It was a winning run, the next bob and she would have won,” he said.
“She will roll forward from the gate and hopefully she will lead or sit outside the leader. As long as the track isn't too off, she will be right in it, she has been working really well.”
Our Jumala will round out Patterson's reputation on Saturday in the McCurdy Trucks “We Fix Trucks” 1800.
“She is the eachway bet of the day,” Patterson said.
“She doesn't mind off ground and she has been looking for 1800m or 2000m her whole career. She will get the right sort of from having drawn three and I think she is a good eachway chance.”