Patience has been a key factor in the rise of Jaarffi to the elite level and she’s in good order to open her six-year-old campaign at Rotorua.
The Cambridge Stud-bred and raced mare has trialled well ahead of her resuming run in Sunday’s Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) and any improvement in track conditions will further boost her chances.
Jaarffi has a handy first-up record of two wins from five attempts, and with a rating of 100 is well-suited by the weight-for-age conditions.
“I wanted to run her a couple of weeks ago in an open handicap, but she got 62kg which was too tough,” trainer Lance Noble said.
“I’m a little bit worried about how wet the track might be, but we have to kick her off and she trialled well on the synthetic.
“She needs plenty of speed on and Rotorua can be a swooper’s track, if she handles the footing then hopefully she can get over the top of them.”
Jaarffi has won four of her 17 starts and last preparation the daughter of Iffraaj finished runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), after an interrupted run, and the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m).
“Her form was super and she was a bit unlucky not to win the Group One,” Noble said.
“She’s got a bit stronger, she’s always been a bit weak and she looks the full deal now.
“She was always very tall and quite narrow and we’ve kept nursing her through. Mentally and physically, she’s fully mature now.
“We’re looking forward to this campaign and hopefully she can kick it off in the right way on Sunday.”
Jaarffi will again be ridden by Warre Kennedy, who also partners stablemate Love Symbol in the Rotorua Racecourse Race For The Ladies (1215m).
The well-related Savabeel mare broke through for her first victory at her 11th appearance when successfully returning last time out from a break.
“She’s a beautiful mare and she took a while to be a racehorse, over-racing and doing a few things wrong, but she came back and won nicely at Ellerslie,” Noble said.
“She looks as well as she did before the run and has taken a bit of improvement, but again I’m a little bit wary of the track. If it holds up, she should acquit herself well.”
The stable will have one runner on Friday at Taupo with Hot Card to resume in the Chris Jolly Outdoors (1000m) with Kennedy again in the saddle.
“She won well at the trials and 1000m should suit her. She shows a lot of speed, and I think she’ll get around Taupo quite well,” Noble said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
