Tavago
Race Images Palmerston North
Australian options are being considered for the talented Cambridge three-year-old Tavago.
The Gr.3 Wellington Stakes winner earned Gr.1 New Zealand Derby favouritism with his unlucky third in the Listed Karaka Mile before he went cold in the market following his next performance.
Tavago jarred up when he tailed the field home in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas and with a month between outings he turned in an eye-catching effort for sixth, and was less than two lengths from the winner, in the Derby.
"It was a super run – he missed the jump a bit and got too far back," said Natalie Young, who prepares Tavago with her partner Trent Busuttin.
"It was a big turnaround, but he had too much ground to make up.
"We've tipped him out for a week and we'll reassess him after that – we've had the AJC Derby in the back of our minds, but the Queensland Derby might be more likely."
Stablemate Predator finished one place behind Tavago in the Derby and he will press on toward the Gr.3 Higgins Manawatu Classic at Awapuni on April 2.
"He over-raced early and was a little bit wide around the first corner and he only finished a length behind Tavago," Young said. "He pulled up well after the race."
Meanwhile, two-year-old gelding Caorunn will take his place in Saturday's Gr.1 Sistema Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.
"He's on track, we're really happy with him," Young said. "He should go another good race, he's very professional."
Successful in three of his five starts and fourth in the Listed Karaka Million, he was a comfortable last-start winner of the Gr.3 Phoenix Park 2YO Classic at New Plymouth. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Gr.3 Wellington Stakes winner earned Gr.1 New Zealand Derby favouritism with his unlucky third in the Listed Karaka Mile before he went cold in the market following his next performance.
Tavago jarred up when he tailed the field home in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas and with a month between outings he turned in an eye-catching effort for sixth, and was less than two lengths from the winner, in the Derby.
"It was a super run – he missed the jump a bit and got too far back," said Natalie Young, who prepares Tavago with her partner Trent Busuttin.
"It was a big turnaround, but he had too much ground to make up.
"We've tipped him out for a week and we'll reassess him after that – we've had the AJC Derby in the back of our minds, but the Queensland Derby might be more likely."
Stablemate Predator finished one place behind Tavago in the Derby and he will press on toward the Gr.3 Higgins Manawatu Classic at Awapuni on April 2.
"He over-raced early and was a little bit wide around the first corner and he only finished a length behind Tavago," Young said. "He pulled up well after the race."
Meanwhile, two-year-old gelding Caorunn will take his place in Saturday's Gr.1 Sistema Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie.
"He's on track, we're really happy with him," Young said. "He should go another good race, he's very professional."
Successful in three of his five starts and fourth in the Listed Karaka Million, he was a comfortable last-start winner of the Gr.3 Phoenix Park 2YO Classic at New Plymouth. – NZ Racing Desk.
