Pencuri out of the Woods

Levin trainers Jane and Norman Wood are considering an Australian campaign for their promising galloper Pencuri (NZ).

Pencuri (4g Zed – Steal A Fortune by Pompeii Court) delivered on the potential displayed during his initial campaign at Awapuni on Saturday.  Aided by a gem of a ride from Chris Johnson, he won first-up after 48 weeks on the sidelines.

The Woods are no strangers to campaigning horses in Melbourne after success with Create Havoc (NZ) and Richard Cranium (NZ) who won the Australian Hurdle as well as open handicaps at Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley.

“It just makes good economic sense to send Pencuri to Melbourne given the huge difference in prizemoney,” Jane Wood explained.  “We don’t see the point in slogging around here while he rises in the weights and doesn’t have much to show for it.  If he can win a race over there it more than cover expenses.”

Pencuri is another winner for the progeny of Zed (Zabeel).  He has been in the spotlight recently through the deeds of horses such as Usainity and Hawkes Bay Cup winner Survived.  Originally based at Little Avondale Stud, Zed will stand at Grangewilliam Stud for the 2013 breeding season.

“We have another young horse by Zed in the stable and he is also a bright prospect once he matures,” said Wood.  “Pencuri has taken time to strengthen up but he’s such a relaxed horse I can see him getting better the further he goes.

“His dam is Steal A Fortune and we named him after her.  Pencuri is Indonesian for thief so we hope he can steal plenty of prizemoney for us!”