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Coventina Bay nearing return

Group Three-winning mare Coventina Bay  had a gallop between races at Whanganui on Friday after the trials were called off at Te Rapa earlier in the week. 

The Robbie Patterson-trained five-year-old was placed in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) behind Showoroses at her most recent start on New Year's Day, having defeated Prise de Fer in the Gr.1 J Swap Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in mid-December.

The highly-talented daughter of Shamexpress has won six of her 11 starts and will be set for further black-type assignments through the autumn. 

"We missed a trial on Monday at Te Rapa," Patterson said.

"She will go to a fillies and mares set weights and penalties race on Saturday week at Matamata. The plan is to then go to the Cuddle Stakes (Gr.3,1600m) and then on to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m), all going well."

Patterson saddled promising three-year-old Puntura, a son of Vespa bred and raced by Carole and John Lynskey, to win his second race from five starts in the Stevo's Distributors 1340 at Whanganui, coming from well back to defeat Showbourne to make it back to back wins. 

"He's a beautiful big animal that will develop into a nice horse in time," Patterson said.

"He has been galloping with Coventina Bay for the last fortnight and has been holding his own."

Noverre off the mark at Wanganui

The Jamie Richards-trained Noverre was backed into $1.40 favouritism for the Palamountain Scientific Nutrition Maiden 2YO 1200m at Whanganui on Friday, and he duly delivered.

It was the second start for the high-priced yearling, who finished runner-up at Matamata when on debut over 1200m last month.

"He drew a nice barrier (1), showed gate speed, but when they came to pressure him Opie (Bosson) did the right thing and took a hold," Richards said.

"It was good education and I think he'll improve a lot for the trip away and a win. I liked the way he got back, got the outside and finished it off. He wanted to be there and wanted to attack the line. I think that's a really good attribute for young colts like this to possess."

Noverre was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis out of Waikato Stud's New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft last year for $800,000, and Richards believes he will get better with time.

"He's a colt we've loved since first seeing him prior to the yearling sales and Dave picked him out as one of the best Savabeel colts in the sale that year," Richards said.

"He's a beautiful horse, very athletic, short back and moves really well, and he's quality from head to toe.

"We've got some great owners in him and he's the type to keep developing into a lovely three-year-old.

"I'm not sure where he sits at the moment amongst the two-year-olds, but next season he's a really nice 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) sort of colt."