Stephen Marsh will set Sofia Rosa’s autumn programme in stone after she runs at Otaki on Saturday.
His dream goal for the mare is the $A4 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but he will temporarily put thoughts of a path to the April 8 feature at Randwick on hold with his immediate focus on the Gr.1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic.
Sofia Rosa opened her current campaign on an encouraging note when she finished seventh in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint at Te Rapa a fortnight ago.
“She got a long way back in the running and she got home really well over the last bit,” Marsh said.
“I would have liked three weeks between runs, but that can’t be helped. In saying that, she bounced through the run really nicely and we expect her to go well again.
“We will confirm the programme after the weekend. There’s a few options and she could go to the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes or we could go straight to Australia and take it from there.”
Sofia Rosa failed to come up last spring following her autumn success in Sydney in the Gr.1 ATC Oaks.
“She’s just a different horse this time around,” Marsh said.
Meanwhile, the stable also has a Group One autumn domestic target for at least one of their mares.
“Thee Auld Floozie had a small let-up after she won the Thorndon and she’ll kick off again in the Westbury Classic and that will top her off nicely for the New Zealand Breeders’ Stakes at Te Aroha,” Marsh said.
Group Three winner Serious Satire is also in the mix for the Breeders’ Stakes and can earn a start at her next appearance.
“She’ll probably run in a Rating 85 at Ellerslie, she wants a mile now, and after that she could go to Te Aroha,” Marsh said.
“The race I really want to get her to later is the Travis Stakes, by then the 2000 metres should be right up her alley.”
– NZ Racing Desk
