Group One winner Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) will be on trial for an Australian assignment at Tauranga this weekend.
The Ben Foote-trained mare will contest the Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) and her performance on Saturday will dictate whether she travels to Sydney to target the Gr.1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m).
“She is nominated for the Coolmore Legacy, but we will see what happens on Saturday,” Foote said.
“She will have to show us that she is up to it. She would have to do something spectacular to be worthy of going.”
Travelling Light’s other more likely option is to stay in New Zealand and contest the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 10.
“There are some smart mares going there, but I think she is up to it. We will see what happens on Saturday, and whatever does happen she will improve from.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) is preparing for a tilt at the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on May 1.
The daughter of All Too Hard has placed at stakes level on three occasions this season and Foote would like to end her three-year-old term on a winning note.
“She is ticking along nicely,” Foote said. “She is going to Awapuni on Saturday-week for the three-year-old 1200m, and then she will head to the Cambridge Breeders’ after that.
“At this stage we will head to those two races and then next prep we will set our sights a bit higher.”
Foote also reported that Travelling Light’s Group Three winning half-sister Vitesse Bo (NZ) (Proisir) has been retired after suffering a season-ending injury.
