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Caulfield Cup Hope Impresses
Group One-winning mare Costume will open her spring preparation at Te Rapa on Saturday week with a trip to Australia to follow for the daughter of Savabeel.
The Garry Chittick-owned and raced five-year-old, who claimed the Herbie Dyke Stakes last term, impressed at Te Teko on Tuesday when she finished a hard-held second at the trials.
“That was a super trial over 1200 metres,” co-trainer Debbie Rogerson said. “We’ll look to run her first-up in the Foxbridge Plate.
“We’ll map a plan out for her after that and we’ve got the Caulfield Cup in mind for her.”
Stablemate Soriano won her trial at Te Teko and is also likely to run in the Foxbridge Plate with a programme to be confirmed for after her resuming run.
Mating Plans Confirmed
A trio of Haunui Farm’s recently-retired mares will be served in Australia this year.
Floria, winner of the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup at her last start, will visit champion sire Redoute’s Choice while Gr.3 Adrian Knox-winner and Group One performer Full of Spirit will be served by Sebring and the dual stakes-winner Misstrum will be covered by first season sire Zoustar.
Long-time Haunui client Marie Leicester has confirmed her Waikato and Counties Cup winner Annie Higgins will go to Savabeel for her first mating.
“All four of these mares have done the job where it counts on the race track and to have four elite mares retiring to stud this season will certainly see them all as welcome additions to the broodmare band,”
studmaster Mark Chitty said. “I’m sure their progeny will all be highly sought after in the years ahead.”Cup On Lucia Valentina’s Radar
New Zealand-bred mare Lucia Valentina will have another trial outing at Newcastle next Wednesday in her build-up toward a spring feature.
Winner of the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes for Stephen Marsh, she is now with Kris Lees who prepared her to win the Gr.1 Vinery Stakes and finished third in the Gr.1 ATC Oaks in the autumn.
"Lucia Valentina will be put under a bit more pressure when she trials next week, but she appears to be coming up how you would like them too," Lees said.
"I think with these types of mares you aim at a Caulfield Cup and decide whether they're up to it. Some make it, some don't. We'll head that way and if she's good enough she'll get there otherwise we'll find a softer target."
