Group Three-winning mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress) 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.”