Waikato filly Island Life will return to the Central Districts on Saturday, aiming to go one better than her last Group Three attempt in the Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.
Straight out of maiden company, Island Life fought valiantly to be denied only at the line by Tuxedo in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki in late November, a pleasing performance for her trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.
“She was very brave, she was probably just travelling a bit too well and got there a bit too easily, which left her a sitting duck,” Ritchie said.
“Tuxedo is obviously a very smart horse, and I know that Shaune (Ritchie) and Colm (Murray, trainers) have a lot of time for him, so it’ll be nice to get her back against to her own sex and hopefully she can pull it off.”
The daughter of Vadamos will head south from their Matamata base on Friday, having drawn an outside barrier (11) under Sam Weatherley.
“Steven will travel down with her tomorrow, we always stay at Palmerston North and then do the rest of the journey on Saturday,” Ritchie said.
“She had her final workout on Tuesday morning at Matamata and worked nicely, then she’s just been doing quiet work for the rest of the week. We’re very happy with her.”
Ramsay and Ritchie have had plenty of success at Trentham with a Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and a Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) to their credit, and they have submitted a pair of future nominations at the course for Island Life in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) and $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
An option such as the Oaks is largely dependent on her on her ability to settle in the running, and a relaxed showing in transit on Saturday could warrant a start in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m), which looms at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
“They are still options for her, she did travel a bit keenly over the mile last time, so we’ll stick to that distance for now,” Ritchie said. “If she happened to come out and run really well on Saturday, as well as relaxing well, we may look at the Royal Stakes (Sir Patrick Hogan).
“There are plenty of good fillies races around in the next while, so as long as she’s happy and tracking well, we will head for those.”