Simon and Katrina Alexander came close to winning the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) a few years ago with their stable star La Crique, and now it looks like they may have another Derby prospect on their hands.
Cambridge trainer Shaun Phelan took special satisfaction from an all-the-way win by Pacheco in the $60,000 Poverty Bay Turf Club Cup (2600m) at Taupo on Friday.
A total of $485,000 in stakes and bonuses, including a $50,000 winner-takes-all prize, will be on the line in the inaugural Prezzy Card Northern Country Cups Bonus Series this Spring.
A visit to Wanganui last spring put To Bravery Born on a path towards elite age-group competition, and the son of Snitzel is set to follow a similar formula after another first-up success at Taupo on Sunday.
Te Akau Racing ticked up a treble at Taupo on Thursday, with Egyptian Queen, Caravella and Balance Of Power all first past the post in their respective races.
