Business Time for Patterson's Qld Raiders

Trainer Robbie Patterson is loving it so much in Queensland he might not come home. The Taranaki horseman has enjoyed trading the cold winter under Mount Taranaki for the warmer climes of Brisbane over the last few weeks, but on Saturday things will start to heat up for his Australian raiders Coventina Bay (Shamexpress-Coventina, by High Chaparral) and Puntura (Vespa-Mumzahoney, by Magic of Sydney). According to NZ Racing Desk, both runners will contest their first raceday assignments of their Queensland campaign at Eagle Farm on Saturday, and Patterson is particularly excited about the prospects of Coventina Bay in the Gr2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m). The daughter of Shamexpress heads into the race in good form, having won three of her last six starts, including the Gr3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) and Gr3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), while she placed in her three other outings, including the Gr1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa last start. She subsequently won her first-up trial over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast last week, pleasing Patterson, who has been based at Barry Baldwin's Eagle Farm stable: "She had another gallop on Saturday and had her final gallop today (Wednesday) and Sam (Collett, jockey) was ecstatic. We couldn't be happier with her." Looking ahead to Saturday, Patterson is expecting big things from his mare and doesn't believe Eagle Farm's firm track holds any concerns for her. "I think you will see something special from her on Saturday the way she has been working," he said. "But whether 1300m is a fraction short for her with her racing style we will see… The track is not as firm as these Aussies are making it out to be. It just doesn't carry a lot of grass on it, just the way they have redone the track. All going well, Coventina Bay will return to Eagle Farm in a fortnight to tackle the Gr1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m).

Coventina Bay (inside) will run on Saturday (pic: Race Images Grant Matthew)