A trip across the Tasman is in the offing for talented filly Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) if she performs well in the Gr.3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The Group One performer has missed a large part of her three-year-old season through injury but bounced back in emphatic fashion when winning by nine lengths at Riverton earlier this month.
The daughter of Written Tycoon showed early promise in the spring when finishing runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) behind Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma) but had to undergo surgery after a knee chip was found.
“It’s been unfortunate that she has missed a large part of her three-year-old career here,” said Matthew Pitman, who trains in partnership with his father Michael.
“She had a slight knee chip which we had to have removed. She just required some time off.
“It has probably been a blessing in disguise. She has strengthened up really nicely and seems a bigger, better type of horse this time in.
“Last time her talent got her to her placing in the Guineas, but she was still a lightly-framed horse that was improving all the time. With that time off she has developed into a really nice horse.
“She was pretty impressive down at Riverton.”
If she performs well on Saturday, her trainers are contemplating a trip across the Tasman to tackle some Australian spoils.
“If she can account herself well there is no reason why she can’t go on to Australia if she comes through the race well,” Pitman said.
“We have always thought that she is an Oaks filly, but whether she is too brilliant for that we don’t know yet until we step up over ground.
“There is Queensland or Adelaide that we are thinking of with her. It will be nice to have another crack at a Group One after finishing second in the Guineas.
“Otherwise, we will target something like the three races at Hastings in the spring.
“We are really happy with her. She is a super wee filly and we are reasonably confident with her heading up there (Te Rapa).”
Miss Tycoon Rose has been joined on her trip north by stablemate Okay Pal (Dissident) who also heads into Saturday following a last start victory at Riccarton.
“It’s no secret that we think a lot of the horse,” Pitman said. “We think that he is going to go on to big things.
“He is still maturing. We would love to have a crack at a race like the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) next season, but for that to happen he has got to mature.
“We think the trip will do him wonders in the long term.”
Meanwhile, the Riccarton trainers will head to Wingatui on Thursday where they will have a three-pronged attack in the Brian & Shane Anderton Open 1400.
They are pleased with each of their runners ahead of the meeting’s feature, which include Veladero (Medaglia d’Oro), Carson River (NZ) (Swiss Ace), and Meara Mary (NZ) (Echoes of Heaven).
“They are three very nice horses,” Pitman said.
“Veladero had a little period off and he is still on his way up and we are really happy with him.
“Carson River goes well at Dunedin. We are really happy with the horse and I think he will be a good chance.
“And, Meara Mary tries ultra-hard every time she goes to the races. She is a wee gem and if you had a stable full of horses that try as hard as her you would be a happy trainer. She is always a chance.”
