Te Aroha track specialist Laekeeper was at it again on his favourite home surface on Sunday when he took out the Frank & Annie Matijasevich Memorial Hurdle (3100m), the feature hurdle event on the day.
The victory was the Keeper six-year-olds third over the jumps from just five starts, with all coming at Te Aroha.
Settled in the trail by rider Emily Farr, Laekeeper jumped fluently throughout the early stages of the contest albeit up to a dozen lengths off the tearaway pacemaker, Sino Heights.
Farr made a lightning move at the 1200m mark to join issue with Sino Heights before shooting to the front as she applied the pressure a long way from home. Laekeeper had his chasers under the pump approaching the home turn although Hesalljazz had closed to just a length in arrears.
That was as close as he got as Laekeeper pulled out plenty in the run home to hold his rival at bay with El Corby catching the eye as he ran on nicely to snatch third.
“I was actually going a lot faster than I wanted to as he’s very strong at the moment and just loves his job,” said Farr.
“With the ability that he has got he could still quicken. He’s just incredible.”
Trainer Simon Rees found it hard to contain his excitement as he waited for his charge to make his way back to the Te Aroha birdcage.
“We’re just thrilled,” he said.
“We were a bit nervous before the race but he got the job done.”
Rees revealed it hadn’t been all plain sailing leading into the race after a mishap at his first run back on the flat at Avondale.
“He swallowed his tongue at Avondale a couple of weeks ago so we were a little bit concerned about him,” he said.
“We put the tongue tie on for his next start and he came right which was a relief.”
Rees will now ready the horse for some of the major hurdle events still to come in the season with a trip to Riccarton on the cards.
“We are probably going to try and keep him to his home track, but we do have our eye on the big ones,” he said.
“We are definitely looking at the Grand National at Riccarton, but it will depend on how he goes from here as he really needed the run today.”
