Orphea
Trish Dunell
Last-start winner Orphea has earned a shot at stakes company and her performance will guide Auckland trainer Lance Noble on her summer programme.
Highly regarded by the stable, the Fastnet Rock filly broke her maiden with a narrow but impressive win at Avondale in October at her second appearance to secure a start in Saturday's Listed Schneider Electric Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) at Ellerslie.
"We're really happy with her. It's a pretty even field looking at it on paper — full of one-win horses," Noble said.
"Everyone will be a lot wiser after the race. I'd say most connections are testing the water to see how they measure up at this level.
"We've always rated her highly so how she runs will determine whether we tackle black-type fillies' races or we bring her up through the grades."
Noble, private trainer for Orphea's owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, was pleased with the three-year-old's progress since her Avondale win.
"Her work has been excellent since her win and she's got a good draw in barrier four," Noble said.
"Leith [Innes, regular rider] has said the firmer the track the better and the forecast is good for the weekend so that's going to suit her too."
With Innes on the sidelines through suspension, Grant Cooksley will ride Orphea for the in-form stable on Saturday. - NZ Racing Desk.
Highly regarded by the stable, the Fastnet Rock filly broke her maiden with a narrow but impressive win at Avondale in October at her second appearance to secure a start in Saturday's Listed Schneider Electric Mufhasa Stakes (1300m) at Ellerslie.
"We're really happy with her. It's a pretty even field looking at it on paper — full of one-win horses," Noble said.
"Everyone will be a lot wiser after the race. I'd say most connections are testing the water to see how they measure up at this level.
"We've always rated her highly so how she runs will determine whether we tackle black-type fillies' races or we bring her up through the grades."
Noble, private trainer for Orphea's owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, was pleased with the three-year-old's progress since her Avondale win.
"Her work has been excellent since her win and she's got a good draw in barrier four," Noble said.
"Leith [Innes, regular rider] has said the firmer the track the better and the forecast is good for the weekend so that's going to suit her too."
With Innes on the sidelines through suspension, Grant Cooksley will ride Orphea for the in-form stable on Saturday. - NZ Racing Desk.