Promising three-year-old Taroni will begin her path towards the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) when she lines-up at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The daughter of Showcasing will contest the Gr.3 WRC Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and trainer Lance Noble is hoping for a solid performance from his charge after her pleasing trial last month.
“She had a trial just on a month ago and we were happy with that,” he said.
Taroni won two of her three races as a juvenile, however, she was relegated to second on debut, while she also placed in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) in January, and Noble said she has improved since then.
“She couldn’t have done much more as a two-year-old,” Noble said.
“She has naturally improved from two to three and I am looking forward to seeing how she competes.
“It’s against the colts as well, so we will know how we measure up and it’s a nice stepping stone to the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) in a couple of weeks.”
The 1000 Guineas remains the ultimate aim this spring for Taroni, however, Noble said he is unsure whether she will suit the mile distance.
“We will just follow the normal pattern to the 1000 Guineas,” he said. “The Soliloquy (Gr.3, 1400m) will be the next logical step after Hastings.
“We are not quite sure whether she will get 1600m. She is quite a speedy filly, but we will be trying to see if we can get that distance of the 1000 Guineas.”
Bred by Nearco Stud, Taroni was sold out of Curraghmore's 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft for $90,000. -NZ Racing Desk
