Tajana is coming toward the sharp end of her season and co-trainer Shaune Ritchie is well-qualified to rate her chances of ending it on a high.
The top-rated filly will attempt to add further winning momentum to her Classic campaign when she steps out in Saturday’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa.
Ritchie has already won the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) with Jennifer Eccles (2020), Artistic (2012) and Keep The Peace (2010) and will bid for his first in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored feature with current training partner Colm Murray.
Like Artistic, Tajana is a daughter of Darci Brahma, bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, and Ritchie believes she has all the attributes required to add to the stable’s record.
“Put it this way, she’s even more laid back and with a better temperament than the other three Oaks winners I’ve had,” he said.
“You can’t train that into them, they either have it or they don’t.”
Tajana came off a lengthy break to beat a small age-group line-up over 1600m at Pukekohe last time out and has since progressed faultlessly with George Rooke to again take the ride.
“She sprinted very quickly but the part we wanted to see was her relax and drop the bridle,” Ritchie said.
“She is in superb order for Saturday and has had a nice exhibition gallop,” Ritchie said.
Stablemate Nereus will face a stern test in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) with Rooke to also partner Waikato Stud’s son of Savabeel.
“We’ve always felt he would end up a weight-for-age horse and he’s in a niggly spot in the handicaps,” Ritchie said.
“On face value his run was poor last time, he only ran seventh in a Manawatu Cup (Gr.3, 2400m) and the time between races might indicate he’s had an issue, but he’s a very, very clean-winded and light-boned horse and doesn’t need a lot of racing.
“He’s gone best with his races well-spaced, and his exhibition gallop the other day was remarkable and the best piece of work he’s showed us. He will present in the best order of his life.”
Dream Maker will also step up in grade in the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) off the back of an effortless middle distance maiden victory.
“He did a demolition job at Ruakaka, and this is obviously a massive step up,” Ritchie said.
“He can run the trip out and he’s got that very good nick of Almanzor out of a Zabeel mare, which we saw in the Wellington Cup (Manzor Blue), and the further they go the better.
“He’s a giant of a horse and still a bit of a sook. Whether he’s a future Cup horse or a Derby horse are the questions we need to find out and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ran very well, but I can understand why he’s 30 to one.”
Ritchie is confident of a bright opening at Te Rapa with Esperanza in the Listen Live On sportnation.nz (1400m).
“She has been desperately unlucky in her last couple of runs, and she can hopefully start us off well,” Ritchie said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
