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Rejuvenated sprinter Bullrush has fast-tracked his way into New Zealand stakes company.
The Waikato Stud-bred and owned sprinter was unbeaten in his first five appearances from the Sydney yard of John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes before his form tapered off and he returned home to join Moira and Kieran Murdoch’s stable.
The O’Reilly six-year-old has responded positively to a change of environment, as evidenced by his front-running victory at Hastings earlier this month in his first appearance from his new quarters.“He’s come through that race very well and I don’t want to step him up to 1400m at the moment so he’s going to run in the Legacy Lodge Sprint,” said Moira Murdoch, referring to the Listed 1200m sprint at Te Rapa on November 11.
“He’s a lovely horse and a pretty capable one too, he’s got plenty of pace. It’s just a matter of keeping him in the right shape and frame of mind now.”Murdoch is hoping Bullrush’s form will warrant due consideration for Group One starts later in the season in the Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the J.R & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m).
Meanwhile, plans are afoot for Promise To Reign to have a second crack at next month’s Gr.3 OMF Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. She finished a luckless fifth in the weight-for-age feature last year.“She’ll run in the Rating 85 over a mile at Hastings on Sunday and then we will be looking at the 2000m race on Melbourne Cup day again,” Murdoch said.
A last-start third on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival, Promise To Reign has only won one race, but she is a multiple Group placegetter.