Talented southern filly Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) will provide trainer Andrew Carston with answers to her immediate program on Saturday.
The daughter of Brazen Beau has acquitted herself well in strong company this season and will step out in the TAB 2YO (1100m) at Ellerslie with her performance to determine the future path she takes.
Miss Ziggy will be coming off a gallant third in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), in which she didn’t enjoy the smoothest of runs.
She settled well back after being crowded at barrier rise and, once into the clear in the straight, powered to the line.
“She had 10 days off after the Karaka Million and we’ve brought her back up slowly again, we’ll take a close look at this race to give us a few clues,” Carston said.
“This is a nice race for her and will give us the line as to what we do, there are a couple of options. One is to bring her home and put her in the paddock.”
Another is the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on March 8, but Carston isn’t getting too far ahead of himself.
“We will see how she goes on Saturday first, the Sistema is in two weeks and we would need to see another very good run to go there,” he said.
The jockey merry go round will continue for Miss Ziggy on Saturday with Michael McNab booked for the first time.
“It’s a bit frustrating that she’s had six starts and five different riders, but it is what it is, and I can’t fault her,” Carston said.
“It is a race at a time and this one fits in well for her. Apart from winning a race, she has done a superb job and I will let her tell me how much further we go.”
Miss Ziggy, who has been based with Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole, was a $250,000 purchase for Christchurch-based owner Glenn Ritchie out of breeder Inglewood Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
“She is the first horse he has had with me, he’s a very good client to have,” Carston said.
Closer to home, the stable will have multiple runners at Sunday’s Ashburton meeting with Say Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Super Sincere (NZ) (Super Seth) considered their leading hopes.
The former will run in the ODT Southern Mile Qualifier (1600m) and has won two of her last four starts and most recently finished a close fifth at Riccarton.
“Say Satono has a last chance to qualify for the Southern Mile Final and I think she can go close,” Carston said.
Rainer Irrigation (1200m) contender Super Sincere broke her maiden two runs back and then didn’t have everything go her way when unplaced in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m).