Moccona Mist
Trish Dunell
Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock is confident he has his durable mare Moccona Mist at her peak for Sunday's Coastwood Homes Lockwood Thames Cup.
Moccona Mist has proved a model of consistency throughout her latest campaign and will go into the race off the back of a handy performance to finish fifth to progressive stayer Sacred Master at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"She has really come on well after her run on Boxing Day and I think she will be at her peak for Thames," reported Lock.
"We had a small problem after her run at Te Rapa where she was galloped on so she had missed some work going into Boxing Day. I think that just told on her in the last bit on that day as she ran out of puff but still battled on nicely in a very hot field.
"Since then she has really improved again so I'm happy going into this one. Track conditions are going to be the key on the day but she does handle a little sting out of the track and I do think her style of racing is suited to the tight Thames circuit."
Sunday's performance will be the last for Moccona Mist in this campaign although Lock does have a further summer target for the mare.
"Safely through her Thames run she will go into the paddock for a quick break so we can freshen her up," he said.
"She has really come a long way from in this preparation and I think she deserves a shot at a stakes race.
"I've got the Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Tauherenikau in mind for her on Waitangi Day as long as she does well during her break so that will be our aim." – NZ Racing Desk
Moccona Mist has proved a model of consistency throughout her latest campaign and will go into the race off the back of a handy performance to finish fifth to progressive stayer Sacred Master at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
"She has really come on well after her run on Boxing Day and I think she will be at her peak for Thames," reported Lock.
"We had a small problem after her run at Te Rapa where she was galloped on so she had missed some work going into Boxing Day. I think that just told on her in the last bit on that day as she ran out of puff but still battled on nicely in a very hot field.
"Since then she has really improved again so I'm happy going into this one. Track conditions are going to be the key on the day but she does handle a little sting out of the track and I do think her style of racing is suited to the tight Thames circuit."
Sunday's performance will be the last for Moccona Mist in this campaign although Lock does have a further summer target for the mare.
"Safely through her Thames run she will go into the paddock for a quick break so we can freshen her up," he said.
"She has really come a long way from in this preparation and I think she deserves a shot at a stakes race.
"I've got the Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes at Tauherenikau in mind for her on Waitangi Day as long as she does well during her break so that will be our aim." – NZ Racing Desk