MORE TO COME FROM TARGHEE

Second-up off a lengthy spell, Targhee (4 m Dissident – Commandment, by Commands) produced a very good victory in the $15,000 Dunstan Feeds Maiden 1200 metres on 22 June at Pukekohe.

Good at the trials before racing, including fourth behind Group Two winner Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt), and admirably performed in good two-year-old fields, Targhee was off the racing scene for over 12 months following her three-year-old campaign but indicated readiness when wearing the leader down in resolute fashion to win a trial on 12 April at Avondale.

She resumed with a tough effort for third in the Pearl Series 1200 metres on 13 May at Matamata, and had the addition of blinkers and leading rider Michael McNab.

Tracking a bunch of seven, Targhee travelled nicely inside the 600m, cruised up mid-straight, and found plenty when McNab pushed the button.

Running good time (1:13.2) on footing rated Heavy10, Targhee held solid from the morning market to pay $8.80 & $2.50 on the NZ TAB tote.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard had said prior to resuming that Targhee had strengthened and following the third she was happy with her work, saying: “She’s busting to do something, really wants to be out there, and working the house down”.

Regarding the year-long break from racing, Gerard explained: “She was really immature as a young horse.

“We gave her a really good long break, where she did heaps of growing and just needed the time to fill out. She’s still maturing.

“She went through a Gavelhouse sale when some owners wanted out and we bought her back because some of the owners wanted to stick with her.

“She’s got great bloodlines and probably wants to go a mile, but after the first-up run I had a chat with Mike (Moroney) and we agreed to keep her at 1200 metres, put the blinkers on, with a view to getting back and running on.

“Her work had been first-class and I think she’s only going to get better once she gets up over 1400 metres and I think she’ll get a mile, too.

“It was a good ride by Michael (McNab) and he said she got there pretty easily.

“She’s owned by some really loyal stable clients, including Gary Eddington from my home town in Methven.

“Adrian (Mathieson) hadn’t been to the races for a couple of years, but up in Auckland, from Christchurch, for business and he popped out for lunch, got the goodies, and now gone back to work.

“And Wally (Campbell) is a great supporter, always here at the races and great to get another winner for him too.

Selected by Paul Moroney and purchased at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Little Avondale Stud, Targhee is owned by Wayne Boyd, Wally Campbell, Maurice & Mary-Jane Caro, Gary Eddington, Adrian Mathieson, Michael Harnett and Ballymore Stables.

A filly from the second crop of five-time Group One winner and Australian Horse of the Year Dissident (Sebring). Trained by Peter Moody, Dissident was known for his exceptionally tough qualities when winning from 1000 metres to 1600 metres.

A first foal, dam sire Commands (Danehill) is the sire of Champion Two-Year-Old, dual Horse of the Year, and national Group One record-holder (14) Melody Belle (Iffraaj). Commands became a proven Australian sire of multiple Group One winners, 32 in total, sired stallion Epaulette, and also an excellent broodmare sire.

Adding to the high quality of her dam side, grand-dam Fleur De Chine (Centaine) showed terrific acceleration to win impressively and finished Third Top Filly on the NZ Free Handicaps. In turn, she became an incredible broodmare, leaving 12 individual winners of 40 races and over $1.8 million in prize money.

Targhee carries a Danehill cross on the dam side of grand-sire Sebring (More Than Ready), and as the sire of Commands.

Targhee was strapped by Scott Magee.