Trainer upbeat in Northern quest

Confidence is growing in Rangatira’s prospects of adding another prestige jumping race to his record before the curtain falls on his career.

“He looks awesome and he’s working beautifully,” his Stratford trainer and part-owner Steve Gulliver said.

Rangatira was the champion jumper of 2014 after wins in the Great Northern Steeplechase and the Wellington Steeplechase, but he suffered a tendon injury after he had distanced his opposition at Trentham.

He was given a lengthy break and a further setback delayed his return this winter.

“He had another issue when a splint came up and he had to have that removed, otherwise we would have been at Wellington again,” Gulliver said.

“He’s got very valuable legs this horse – they’ve cost us a fortune!”

Rangatira will make an appearance on the flat in The Stewards’ Stayer at Woodville on Thursday after parting company with rider Cory Perrett in a steeplechase two runs back.

“We’re going to run in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and the Great Northern again and then probably retire him,” Gulliver said.

“If he won one of those he would get too much weight on his back. He had 71kg at Te Aroha the other day and Cory had 16kg of lead in his saddle.

“There were jumping trials at Ellerslie this week, but that’s a long way to go for a trial so he can have a run around at Woodville instead.”

At his most recent outing, Rangatira finished fifth in a Rating 65 at Hawera.