Town Cryer Seeking Trentham Mile Redemption

Trentham has been a rewarding track for Town Cryer, except for last year’s Gr1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). Now, a year later, the mare is back, seeking redemption, reports NZ Racing Desk. In 2023, Town Cryer shot straight to the lead, but chaos followed when the three outside gates failed to open, resulting in a false start. Trainer Roydon Bergerson recalls, “She seems to enjoy Wellington and Auckland, she probably shouldn’t have been out of the money in this race last year.” Despite running seventh, it was far from a fair race. “She went the furthest of any horse, didn’t stop until halfway up the straight, then turned around to go again,” he said. “She hung in there and ran an incredible race. If the first had gone cleanly, she would’ve been a lot closer as she was bang-on that day, but that’s racing.” The mare bounced back, winning or placing in five subsequent starts, including a second to Belclare in the Gr1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). Now six, she remains in form, with a Gr3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) runner-up finish and a Gr3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) win. “She’s ready,” Bergerson said after a gallop at Wanganui with stablemate Wingman. Adding to the confidence is jockey Luke Currie, a 13-time Group 1 winner. “She’s a tough mare who loves a fight. If she gets cheap sectionals, she’ll be very competitive.” Town Cryer’s stablemates, Too Sweet and Wingman, also head into Trentham with promise, along with 4YO Testing, set for a step-up in distance under Michael McNab.

Town Cryer has a second chance in the Gr1 Mufhasa (pic: Peter Rubery Race Images)