Consistent mare Haughty has often been the bridesmaid throughout her short career and will get a prime opportunity to break through maiden ranks at Tauranga on Sunday.
The daughter of Iffraaj has struck competitive races all the way through, placing behind the likes of Knights Realm, Zormella and last-start in Rating 60 company behind Sax ‘n’ Silks.
Back in her own grade, Haughty will have the services of top senior hoop Michael McNab in the Ultimate Mazda Maiden (1600m), where co-trainer Sarah Fahy feels she is well-placed.
“She’s a lovely horse, she’s actually my brother’s,” Fahy said.
“She’s been galloping really well, she’s ready to win and she’s just been coming up against some really nice horses. Hopefully she can get there on Sunday, she’s stepping out to the mile for the first time and we’re hoping that will be the answer with her.
“She sits quite nicely in this field and has drawn well (6) last time the draw held her back a little bit last time I think.”
Fahy, who trains in partnership with her husband Conor, will also be represented at Te Aroha on Saturday by Procella. A capable stayer, the Proisir mare was a winner three starts back, but over-raced with the blinkers on last-start in the South Waikato Cup (2000m).
Under a light weight of 54kg, she will contest the Pyramid Trucking 2200.
“She’s a really tough little mare, we’ve been waiting for a bit of rain with her to be honest which hasn’t come, but she always puts in a good effort,” Fahy said.
“Last start at Matamata, she was just a bit keen with the blinkers on, so we’ve taken them off for Saturday. She’s going really well at home.”
The Pukekohe Park trainers have enjoyed plenty of success with their small team this season, including a smart debut winner back in February in the form of Wolf Twenty One.
The Tivaci three-year-old was unbeaten at the trials and carried that form to race-day, where he held off late chargers to score over 1200m. While delighted with the result, the Fahy’s will likely farewell the gelding as he heads across the Tasman to continue his career.
“We definitely expected that from him, he’s won every trial we’ve put him in and he’s a lovely, progressive horse,” she said. “Even though he didn’t win by a heap, I think that was just because he was out on his own for a while and he certainly did it easily.
“He is probably heading to Australia now, he’s destined to go over there and we hadn’t expected to get to race him, so it was nice that we got to and he got the win there.
“Mark Walsh has the majority share and bought him from Karaka with some connections of his, he’s from Ireland and Conor met him through some Irish mates. It’s been a really nice journey.”
