Great mates team up for major Riccarton success

Media Release - Wednesday November 15

Trainer Robbie Patterson and jockey Craig Grylls were again to the fore at Riccarton where they combined with Puntura to claim the major prize on Wednesday’s program.

Trainer Robbie Patterson and jockey Craig Grylls were all smiles after Puntura's Gr.3 Coupland's Bakeries Mile win on Wednesday.  Photo: Race Images South

They have proven to be a formidable pairing in recent seasons and joined forces on the middle day of the New Zealand Cup carnival to claim top honours in the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m).

“He’s a big horse and it was great to have Craig on him, we gel really well and he’s a great mate of mine. He’s a champion to me,” Patterson said.

While it wasn’t the pre-race plan to go to the front, circumstances dictated Puntura made the running and he revelled in the role to land the biggest prize of his career.

“I never tell Craig to do anything, apart from telling him to get the first round in when we have a winner,” Patterson said.

“He’s a good galloper though, a beautiful big horse and he’s come back from a wind operation.”

Puntura stepped well from the barrier and worked his way to the front before the six-year-old forged clear in the straight.

He comfortably held the challenge of the favourite It’s Business Time at bay with Diss Is Dramatic and Times Ticking next to cross the line.

“The plan wasn’t to be in front, but he began as well as anything and I was looking to slot in when they eased up,” Grylls said.

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“I was able to let him stride forward and got a pretty soft lead and once we got passed the 400m mark he was still travelling pretty well.

“He’s been going good races and been a bit unlucky and showed he’s more than capable.”

Patterson and Grylls have now combined for 36 winners and most notably with the now-retired Coventina Bay in the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).

Her former stablemate Puntura has been well-travelled during his career, which now includes six domestic wins and complemented by victories in Queensland at the Sunshine Coast (twice) and one at Doomben.

“He’s not a Group One horse so we have to pick around now and see what else we get, he’s an older gelding and done a lot of miles,” Patterson said.

Bred and raced by John and Carole Lynskey, Puntura is out of the Magic Of Sydney mare Mumzahoney who was successful on two occasions with the Group winners Ellakapella and Jason Belltree the stand-out names on her pedigree page.

Mumzahoney is also the dam of Puntura’s full-sibling and stablemate Margherita Veloce, who has won three races, and she also has an unraced three-year-old sister to the pair named Gigi Galle and a yearling colt by Vespa.

NZ Racing Desk

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Race Result - 19th Coupland's Bakeries Mile Gr3 1600m

Riccarton Park Track: Good(3) Time: 1:35.91
1
Puntura
- 6g Vespa (NZ) x Mumzahoney (NZ) (Magic Of Sydney (AUS))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: C J Grylls 55.5
2
1.3
It's Business Time
- 5m Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Risque Business (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: M J Mc Nab 53
3
2.1
Diss Is Dramatic
- 4m Dissident (AUS) x Our Drahma Queen (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: A Comignaghi 53
4
2.3
Times Ticking
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Laoghaire (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A R Macgregor Rdr: J Parkes 59
5
2.8
Capo Dell Impero
- 6g Ghibellines (AUS) x Gallant Babe (NZ) (Gallant Guru (AUS))
Tnr: B & S Anderton Rdr: C A Campbell 53
6
3.5
Kopua
- 6g Shocking (AUS) x Kendall Marie (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: K T Myers Rdr: L J Allpress 53
7
3.6
Matscot
- 6g Haradasun (AUS) x Bewarned (NZ) (Danske (NZ))
Tnr: Ms Sharon Robertson Rdr: C R Barnes 53
8
4.7
Burgie
- 5m Ghibellines (AUS) x Norah (NZ) (Gallant Guru (AUS))
Tnr: B & S Anderton Rdr: K Asano 53
9
4.9
He's A Doozy
- 6g Zacinto (GB) x The Dewdrop (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: J K Riddell 58.5
10
5
Gee Cee
- 6g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Smitten Kitten (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: S C Spratt 53
11
6.1
Harlech
- 7h Darci Brahma (NZ) x Obsession (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: V A Colgan 54
12
6.8
Firoden
- 8g Denman (AUS) x Firostefani (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: L A Beck Rdr: Joe Doyle 54
13
8
Humbucker
- 7g Iffraaj (GB) x Temeraire (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: E E Winsloe Rdr: Ms K Williams 53
14
8.8
Goodanya
- 8g Zacinto (GB) x Anya (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: P D Harris Rdr: W B Kennedy 53
15
9.6
Mali Ston
- 6g El Roca (AUS) x Loviste (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: Darryn & Briar Weatherley Rdr: S R Weatherley 57
16
10.2
Ears Back
- 5m Jakkalberry (IRE) x Makesmewonder (AUS) (Grass Wonder (USA))
Tnr: J C Blackadder Rdr: J J Fawcett 53
17
12.7
Lightning Jack
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x La Petite (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Kelvin Tyler Rdr: W F Pinn 58
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