Easter goal for smart 4YO

Progressive mare Sacred Rhythm is on target for a Group Two feature.

The lightly-tried daughter of the late Pentire has bounced through her latest winning run in top shape ahead of her next appearance at Pukekohe Park.

“We’re aiming her at the Easter Handicap on Saturday week and we’ll play it by ear after that,” said Kieran Murdoch, who trains in partnership with her mother.

“She’s unbelievably well and she’s a lovely mare to have around the stable, she just gets on with her job.”

Sacred Rhythm has won five of her 10 starts, three of them from her current quarters after picking up two victories including the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth last season from Tony Pike’s Cambridge stable.

“She originally came to us for pre-training after her three-year-old season,” Murdoch said.

“Her feet are relatively flat and she was finding the sand track (at Cambridge) too abrasive on her soles, the beach here is better for her longevity and we can’t fault her.”

Another talent suited to the environment is the exciting Mihaul, who will make his second appearance from the stable in Saturday’s Rating 75 sprint at Te Rapa.

He was unbeaten in two runs for Allan Sharrock and subsequent leg issues resulted in the Taranaki trainer advising his owners to send the Iffraaj gelding north.

After nearly two years off the track, Mihaul made an impressive return to racing at Matamata last month to remain undefeated.

“He’s a pretty laid back horse at the beach,” Murdoch said. “He’s incredibly well in himself and we’ll stick to the left-handed way with him.

“Te Rapa is a nice track for him, it doesn’t get too hard although we wouldn’t want it too wet either.”