Levin trainer Josh Shaw is keen to get an elite-level scalp with his Group One performer Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca), and she will get her first opportunity this preparation in just over a month at Hastings.
The rising six-year-old mare was a revelation for Shaw last summer, posting runner-up results in the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m), and Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m).
She enjoyed a long spell before returning to work last month and Shaw has been pleased with her progress ahead of spring racing.
“I am pretty happy with the way she came back in after her break. She is taking the right steps forward,” Shaw said.
“She has been back in for about eight weeks now, so she is ready to step out again shortly.”
A trip north beckons Faraglioni for her first-up task, with a tilt at the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings in September her first major target of the spring.
“There is an Open 1200m at Te Rapa on the 10th of August. We are going to bypass the Foxbridge (Gr.2, 1200m) because I think she performs a bit better with a bit of space between her runs. Ultimately, she will head to the Tarzino second-up.”
Shaw said he will likely bypass the second day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival but is planning to return for the last day of the carnival in October to tackle the Gr.3 Valley D’Vine Spring Sprint (1400m).
“I am probably going to keep her in the early stages (of the preparation) to 1400m until we get deeper into the season,” Shaw said. “Third-up into a mile (for the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate) might be a bridge too far this early, but we will probably look to go to the final day of the carnival for the 1400m race.
“She will then look to possibly head to the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ and follow the same sort of path she followed last year.
“She is a year older, stronger, and more mature, so hopefully everything is on the right trajectory.”
Shaw is also excited about the prospects of Faraglioni’s rising three-year-old half-sister Catch You Idol, who he is hoping can follow in the footsteps of her older sibling.
“I have got a half-sister to Faraglioni, by U S Navy Flag, that is showing plenty of promise. Hopefully she can step up and the old girl can pass on the baton when she finishes,” Shaw said.
“Her head is in the right space and she is showing that she wants to be a racehorse. She will have a jumpout in late August and a trial in early September. I am not wanting to push the button with her yet.”
Meanwhile, Shaw is hoping to see some improvement from Lala Roc when she lines-up at Awapuni’s Synthetic meeting on Thursday.
The daughter of El Roca finished last on debut over 1200m at Otaki last month, and Shaw is hoping for a better showing in the Call Wayne Linton Property Brokers 1400.
“She was a bit of a headscratcher at Otaki, I think I aged four years in two minutes,” Shaw said.
“She has had four jumpouts or trials this time in, she has won three of them and ran second in the other, and then she went in and put in a shocker at Otaki.
“If you can take anything out of it, Our Sassie Anne was well beaten in the same race on the same day, and she came out and won yesterday (at Hawera).
“I was pretty confident going in last time and was left with a fair bit of egg on my face. I am more hopeful than confident this time.”
