Racing
League
Rugby
Football
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Motorsport
Netball
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Pacheco takes out thrilling Waikato Hurdle
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • June 13th, 2026 1:30 pm
Pachecho (outside) on his way to winning the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A dogged, never-say-die effort from promising jumper Pacheco saw the eight-year-old take out the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa in a thrilling finish.
The Shaun Phelan-prepared son of Makfi had been mixing racing on the flat with one start over fences back in May in this campaign to fit him for Saturday’s assignment, with last week’s fifth placing in open handicap company over 2100m at Ellerslie providing the perfect lead-in to the premier hurdle contest.
Rider Jay Kozaczek sat Pacheco outside pacemaker Dictation throughout the two-mile journey, with never more than half a length between them as they put on a dazzling display of jumping.
Pacheco applied the pressure to his rival with three fences to clear in the Te Rapa home straight and established a narrow margin with one fence to clear as Dictation’s stablemate Taika joined the pair to provide a three-way tussle to the line.
Pacheco’s proven flat ability stood him in good stead as Kozaczek drove him home to score by a neat length from Taika and Dictation, who were locked together in the battle for the minor placings where the camera separated the two by the barest margin in favour of Taika.
Phelan was rapt with the performance and was quick to single out Kozaczek for his effort in the saddle.
“It is a big thrill as a lot of work has gone into this horse from the team at home,” Phelan said.
“It was a beautiful ride by Jay and we knew there was heaps of improvement in the horse as he hadn’t had a hurdle race for over two years before his run the other day.
“He was just a bit rusty that day, but we knew we wanted to come here and win as he had a good hit out on the flat last week and we thought he was pretty ready”
Phelan was unsure where the horse would go next as his dislike of travelling in a float limited his options somewhat.
“We can’t travel him very far as he is a lunatic in the float,” he said.
“I’d love to take him to Aussie, but obviously we can’t so I might just back off him and take him to the Northern instead.”
Phelan was referring to the J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdle (4200m), which is raced at Te Aroha at the conclusion of the jumping season in September.
Kozaczek was sporting a smile a mile wide as he praised the effort of his mount.
“I just love this horse,” he said. “I was pretty confident coming around the bend but he can get a bit keen and stop, but he was very good there.
“He is a tough horse who has a lot more winning to do.”
Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, Pacheco was purchased for $10,000 by part-owner Thomas Nicholson off gavelhouse.com in 2021 and has now won seven of his 37 career starts and $199,525 in prizemoney.
