WELLINGTON - Top Matamata trainers Mike Moroney and Andrew Scott are staging a hit and run raid on Trentham.
The pair will saddle smart Success Express four-year-old Promise Keeper for today's $30,000 Whyte Handicap and, although it will be his first start in open class, there is plenty of confidence in the camp.
Promise Keeper, the stable's only runner at the three-day meeting, has always looked a horse that would get to the top, and his connections have been rewarded for adopting a patient policy.
His 14 starts have yielded three victories.
After streeting his opposition at his debut last season, Promise Keeper's connections thought enough of the horse to tackle the Hawkesbury Guineas in Sydney.
"He ran sixth or seventh and wasn't far behind them. It was only his second start," co-trainer Andrew Scott said.
This season Promise Keeper has proven his ability on winter tracks, and Scott dismissed any suggestion the horse may be trapped by Trentham's winter footing.
Although up in class today, Promise Keeper drops to just 51kg in the Whyte after carting 56.5kg to victory at Avondale.
"There are a lot of horses that will be giving him weight and he is in excellent shape if not better than last start," Scott said.
Promise Keeper will be reunited with in-form jockey Mark Du Plessis, who was aboard two starts back when the horse finished third behind Arduous at Gate Pa.
Promise Keeper shouldn't get things all his own way.
In the best field the Whyte has attracted in years, a case can be made for many, but it could be northern stables that dominate.
Mr McGerkle and Clarify from Takanini and Ruakiwi Lad, trained at Matamata by Bob Autridge, look a formidable trio.
Rain would assist impressive last-start winner Mr McGerkle, but he is at the top of his form and four of his nine victories have been at 1600m.
- NZPA
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