Sires audition for Tajana at Matamata

[Wandering Eyes]

Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray’s filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has the opportunity to end her juvenile campaign at the highest level after Wednesday’s AKW Farrier Ltd 2YO (1200m) at Matamata.

An Oaks Stud-bred daughter of Darci Brahma, Tajana started her career on a booming note getting within half a length of Return To Conquer in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), with that colt going on to win Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).

She returned to maiden company second-up and covered plenty of extra ground to finish fourth, and at last on Wednesday, the filly will have the advantage of an inside draw.

“She hasn’t let us down on either occasion at the races,” Ritchie said.

“Her trial beforehand was excellent, she got back and hit the line very well which is what you want to see a two-year-old filly that is going to be better in the spring doing.

“In both races she had to work around some very exciting horses, including the Sistema winner, she went a hell of a race against him and he’s obviously our top colt at the moment. Last start, from the draw she was just caught three-wide.

“She’s drawn barrier one on Wednesday and we’ve been going back on her primarily because of her wide gates, so there’s no real reason not to use the barrier this time. It doesn’t mean we’ll chase her out, but she certainly won’t have to give that head-start away.

“I don’t think she’s ever seen a running rail, so we’ll have to give her a look in trackwork.”

Ritchie identified Te Akau Racing’s record-breaking Ready To Run purchase Hostility (I Am Invincible) as her biggest danger, but also acknowledged the benchmark he will set ahead of a possible tilt at the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1200m).

“She’s a really exciting filly, obviously that top colt from Te Akau has got the pedigree, the looks and the colours on him to be extremely hard to beat,” he said. “But we’ve got some race experience on him so hopefully that gets us close, or at least to give him a little bit of a fright.

“I think she’s going to love the 1400m and love Trentham, I think that would really suit her. Having said that, she would have to either win or be unlucky not to beat the colt to warrant a start. There’s not much point going down if he’s too good for us on Wednesday.

“I’d be just as comfortable, as would Rick (Williams, The Oaks Stud General Manager), to give her a break after this one, but if she puts her hand up and proves worthy of going to Wellington, we could go there. If not, it’ll certainly be her last run this time in, unfortunately there’s not a lot of grass around in the Waikato at the moment, so it’s tempting to have a go at it.”

Joining Tajana at the Matamata meeting will be first-starter Way Out (NZ) (Rageese) in the Matamata Tractors and Machinery (1050m) and a resuming Richard Farrell (NZ) (Staphanos) in the Fertco (1400m).

Back in Cambridge, Ritchie is reflecting positively on Ellerslie’s inaugural Champions Day, which kicked off strongly for the stable with Eye Candy (NZ) (Darci Brahma) running third to Island Life in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m).

“She was very genuine, she tried extremely hard,” he said.

“I’m yet to have a final decision from the owners, but at this point, I’d like to see her have a crack at the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m). I think she’ll run the trip out, she’s short in the leg and looks more like a sprinter but she’s running these trips out strongly.

“She really digs in and tries hard.

“She’s now a Listed and Group Three placed filly, so she’s at some good value. Anything we can do from this point on is to get that stakes win or even better, get that Group One placing. Apart from the hot favourite, it looks pretty open after that, so I think she’s entitled to have a go.

“I’ll leave that final decision to the owners when I talk to them in a couple of days’ time.”

Later in the afternoon, stable star Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) was among the favourites for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and finished a meritorious seventh after failing to see out the trip.

“In my opinion, he just failed to run the mile-and-a-half out,” Ritchie said.

“I thought Joe (Doyle, jockey) gave him a lovely ride, he didn’t do too much work to get across and he settled superbly down the back. At the top of the straight, Willydoit, who had a much harder run, his stamina kicked in and unfortunately ours was lacking.”

The son of Tivaci has had a sterling preparation, with just six starts resulting in victories in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m), alongside a runner-up finish in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

With all of that behind him, Ritchie was happy to send his gelding to the paddock, with plenty of overseas interest still calling.

“I’m extremely proud of his performances this year, he’s still in his first prep and he went to the farm today for a well-deserved break,” he said.

“I have no doubt that over 2000m that he would beat some of the horses that beat him home on Saturday. The best part about that is we know have that information, so he’ll get a nice break now and come back as a very strong four-year-old in the spring.

“We’ll keep him to the mile and 2000m as his furthest distance, that’s where he can make his impact.

“There is the obvious of Hong Kong making calls, so it’s not safe yet, the owners are great and we will get a commission from it if he sold, and we’ve also bought the half-sister so we have the bloodlines coming through at great value for the owners to enjoy.

“It would be lovely to keep him, but it would be just as nice if he did get sold, I wouldn’t mind going up there to see him race myself.

“Those things are what every New Zealand trainer faces, I don’t have much of an issue with it as some of the money for these geldings is simply too strong. If it wasn’t for Entain, he would’ve been sold far before now.”

Ritchie had plenty of praise for the track conditions at Ellerslie, as well as the spectacle put on by Auckland Thoroughbred Racing.

“I thought the track was unbelievable, there has been some criticism of the track being too hard, but that certainly wasn’t the case,” he said. “I had a good walk before the races and the Verti-drain was going in a lot further than my index finger can go. That’s really giving the track a good cushion, and there was a superb length of grass on it.

“There are three major factors in my opinion that are really lifting New Zealand racing, that being the impact of Entain, New Zealand Bloodstock and Karaka being the greatest sales centre in the world, and also, Ellerslie’s track facilities not only for the horses but also for the patrons.

“We’ve really got something to work with.”

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