Tavistock Mare Aiming High

Media Release - Thursday August 5

Symon Wilde is daring to dream with Tralee Rose this spring.

The Warrnambool trainer has nominated the daughter of Tavistock for both the Gr.1 Caulfield (2400m) and Gr.1 Melbourne Cups (3200m), and while he admits they are lofty targets, he doesn’t want to die wondering with the mare he part-owns.

Tralee Rose wins at Flemington - image Racing Photos

“We are going to try and tailor a programme to get towards the Melbourne Cup and if we come up short there are plenty of other options for her,” Wilde told SENtrack.

“We are going to give it a real shot with her and who knows, she might be able to make that necessary improvement to have her in the mix in a race like the Bart Cummings (Gr.3, 2500m).”

Tralee Rose takes a strong formline into spring, having won five of her 11 starts, and placing in three others.

Her career highlights came earlier this year when she won the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day and the Gr.3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville a month later.

Advertisement

While pleased with those results, Wilde said she will need to have improved to be competitive in the spring features.

“We are under no illusions - she beat off-season fields,” Wilde said. “She did it well, but she does have to make that next step.

“It is unusual to say a five-year-old is still improving, but she has finally matured so I think we will see the best of her now.

“We are dreaming at the moment and the reality is that she might not be good enough.”

Her first major assignment will likely be the Bart Cummings at Flemington in October, but she may have a few stakes runs in the lead-up.

“We are trying to work out a programme around the Bart Cummings so we are not quite sure how many runs we will have into that,” Wilde said.

“The Heatherlie (Listed, 1700m) and Naturalism (Gr.3, 2000m) are the usual pathways into something like the Bart Cummings.”

Wilde has been pleased with her progess so far this preparation.

“We are really happy with her,” he said. “She has come in a bit bigger and stronger. I did always think that she would keep on improving and this spring would be her best.

“She has done about six weeks and she had her first little bit of fast work earlier in the week and we couldn’t have been happier with the way she went.

“You have really got to get that foundation for her. That’s the key to it – laying a really good solid base and then not over-race her or race her into fitness, we would rather have her pretty forward and fit, and race her at her best distances – 2000m and above.”

Wilde said Warrnambool has experienced a wetter winter than normal and he is hoping for drier conditions in the next month to assist their preparation towards spring racing.

“The next month will tell a tale,” he said. “It has been quite difficult to get grass gallops in this area, which hasn’t impacted us too much yet, but we do need things to dry out over the next two or three weeks because we will be putting the acid on her a bit more and that will help shape where we go.”

Tralee Rose was purchased by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for $50,000 out of the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Express Yourself Returns to NZ
Group One performer Express Yourself has returned home from her spring campaign in Melbourne and is now on a path towards the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 19
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tavistock Mare Chasing G1
Last start Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Town Cryer has another Trentham feature in her sights, taking the next step towards the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Foxton trials on Tuesday.