Racing: Cup hope back to winning ways

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Chris Wood's feature race aspirations for Pacorus are firmly back on track after a minor blip earlier this month.

The Cambridge trainer will early next week confirm a path to the group three Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup for his charge after the Tavistock gelding destroyed his opposition in yesterday's Ray White NZ Mitchelson Cup at Ellerslie.

It was a dominant performance and more in line with his hat-trick of wins through the winter at Tauranga, Te Rapa and New Plymouth before a fifth placing at his previous appearance.

"A lot of horses don't cop Ruakaka and he got beaten fair and square on the day," Wood said.

Pacorus jumped straight to the front at Ellerslie for stable apprentice Viktoria Gatu and, after putting a break on the field 300m from home, the five-year-old coasted home.

"We came with a plan to lead, I didn't think there was much pace in the race and he's a horse that can just keep rolling," Wood said.

"He doesn't take a lot of racing and I'll map out a plan to the New Zealand Cup in the next few days."

Pacorus had four lengths to spare on the favourite Megablast, who had his chance, at the post.

- NZ Racing Desk