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Cantilena will be preparing for richer assignments when she takes on her older rivals at Motukarara on Wednesday.
The Riccarton filly resumes in the $8000 rating 75 1400m, her first race since beating Shadows Cast in a 1400m three-year-old race at the New Zealand Cup meeting and a good run would confirm a start in the Listed Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui on February 6.
Cantilena, a Per Incanto filly, has had two wins and a second from three starts this term.
She raced keenly at her last start, but still rallied bravely to grab Shadows Cast in the closing stages.
Shadows Cast franked that form by running second in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes at his next start and also finished a creditable sixth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic this month.
Cantilena had a three-week break after the New Zealand Cup meeting and trainer Lance Robinson decided to give her a run closer to home rather than travel for last weekend’s Gore Guineas.
“There are some good three-year-old races coming up in the autumn,” Robinson said. “Her work has been very good and we are really happy with her. She’s still learning the game, but she does go all right.”
Sam Wynne, Cantilena's regular rider, is suspended and Darryl Bradley will ride the filly and stablemate Boots ‘N’ All at Motukarara.
Boots ‘N’ All is a form runner for the maiden 1200m while Robinson will be represented by Volcano and Still Waters at Ashburton on Saturday.
Volcano, who has won six races, tackles the Listed Speight’s Timaru Stakes and a bold run could earn him a start in the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui a week later.