Wooden Edge
Trish Dunell
Wooden Edge will face the toughest challenge of his brief career at Wanganui on Saturday.
The unbeaten five-year-old will chase his fourth win in the Take It Easy Tours 1340, a Rating 75 contest that is full of in-form contenders.
However, Wooden Edge has done everything asked of him by trainer Chris Wood in fine style, kick-started by a runaway debut victory last season at Te Awamutu before he kept another clean sheet in a Rating 65 event at Te Rapa.
"I was a little bit surprised with the first two, but my riders told me he was a good one and he keeps stepping up," Wood said.
The gelding continued his winning role last time out with an effortless win in a special conditions race at New Plymouth.
"Viktoria (Gatu) said he was jogging at the top of the straight and she gave him a slap and he went into over-drive," Wood said.
"He's come through that race well and he's looking and feeling really good.
"It's exciting for the owners, the staff and the trainer to have a horse like him in the stable."
While Wooden Edge has won all three of his races on tracks rated slow or worse, Wood doesn't believe improved underfoot conditions will halt the gelding's progress.
"He hasn't got a wet tracker's action – he's got a lovely, big stride so I don't see any reason why he won't act on better ground," he said. – NZ Racing Desk.
The unbeaten five-year-old will chase his fourth win in the Take It Easy Tours 1340, a Rating 75 contest that is full of in-form contenders.
However, Wooden Edge has done everything asked of him by trainer Chris Wood in fine style, kick-started by a runaway debut victory last season at Te Awamutu before he kept another clean sheet in a Rating 65 event at Te Rapa.
"I was a little bit surprised with the first two, but my riders told me he was a good one and he keeps stepping up," Wood said.
The gelding continued his winning role last time out with an effortless win in a special conditions race at New Plymouth.
"Viktoria (Gatu) said he was jogging at the top of the straight and she gave him a slap and he went into over-drive," Wood said.
"He's come through that race well and he's looking and feeling really good.
"It's exciting for the owners, the staff and the trainer to have a horse like him in the stable."
While Wooden Edge has won all three of his races on tracks rated slow or worse, Wood doesn't believe improved underfoot conditions will halt the gelding's progress.
"He hasn't got a wet tracker's action – he's got a lovely, big stride so I don't see any reason why he won't act on better ground," he said. – NZ Racing Desk.