Robbie Patterson will have seen plenty of the central North Island by Wednesday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) meeting at Matamata, but a softer track poses a positive for his talented pairing of One Bold Cat and Puntura.
Based at New Plymouth, Patterson travelled across to Hastings last Saturday for the elite-level contest but returned to his base without a representative stepping foot on the track.
That has been an unfortunate theme of late for One Bold Cat, a Group Three-winning son of The Bold One who also missed a run at his home venue on September 14, a meeting that fell victim to torrid weather conditions.
Whilst making use of another local course in the Taranaki, Patterson shifted his focus towards the Arrowfield where One Bold Cat has drawn barrier four, his lowest gate since winning at Rating 75 level in February 2023.
"After missing New Plymouth, I took a group of horses down to Hawera for a gallop there, treating it as a trip away and a trial," Patterson said.
"We were all saddled for the second race at Hastings then we were off home, but that's the nature of the beast.
"Hopefully we've got him forward enough for Wednesday, he'll be finding the line strongly but it just depends on how far back he gets.
"This is the best draw he's had in a long time really, so hopefully we can be reasonably handy and if he is, he won't be far from them in the finish."
The versatile six-year-old won the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) on a Good4 last November, but Patterson indicated that the prospect of a softer track at Matamata would be a definite assist for One Bold Cat, with the same to be said for stablemate Puntura.
Puntura had an outstanding streak of success last summer, winning the Gr.3 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (1600m), Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m) and Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) over a glittering two-month period.
The Vespa gelding finished two lengths from Bonny Lass in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) fresh-up, and despite then finishing near the tail in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), Patterson was satisfied with his performance heading towards a mile.
"He's coming along well, it probably didn't look a good run on paper in the Tarzino but he's run similar closing sectionals as the winner. He was strong late," he said.
"He's got an awkward draw (13) but it's better to have one at Matamata than at Hastings, so he'll bounce, roll forward and hopefully we'll end up in a nice spot.
"If he goes a good race and is finishing off the mile well, he'll go to the Livamol. There aren't that many races for these weight-for-age horses so we'll have a throw at the stumps."
The pair both hold early nominations for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m), to be run back at Hastings on October 12.
Patterson's other runner at Matamata will be Belles Fate, a fast-improving mare who dominated a similar contest to Wednesday's Betta Inspect It Premier (1300m) on the opening day at Hastings.
Under MAAT conditions, the Iffraaj five-year-old will carry 57kgs against a number of maideners.
"I think she's improved since she last raced, she obviously won on a Good4 there but any ease in the track will help her too," Patterson said.
"She's bright, she galloped really well yesterday morning with One Bold Cat and I expect a big run from her."
