Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Maasir emerged as a Derby contender when winning over 2100m at Te Rapa on Wednesday.
Prepared by Jamie Richards, Maasir, a son of Proisir, is now an $18 chance for the Derby and looks to be on an upward trajectory, settling beautifully under Opie Bosson to make it back to back wins.
“I’ve been pleased with him all the way through and it was a nice win,” Richards said.
“He won his maiden well here a couple of weeks ago on soft ground, and has some European blood in his family and can handle easing in the ground.
“I was really pleased with the way he handled the step up in trip today, even though he’s still quite an immature sort of horse.
“He did it with a fair bit of class there today. He got back, came between them, quickened and showed professionalism and it was a lovely ride by Opie.”
Out of a Swain mare, Maasir was bred by Gordon Cunningham and sold as a yearling in 2018 through Curraghmore's New Zealand Bloodstock draft when bought by Ben Kwok for $30,000.
He was later purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $72,500 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale from the draft of Leanach Lodge.-NZ Racing Desk
