Harris gets
Troy Harris has yet to ride Sofia Rosa on race day, but he has been hands on with the Group I winner for some time.
The Cambridge jockey’s behind the scenes work with the Stephen Marsh-trained mare is now to be rewarded with a Triple Crown opportunity.
‘‘Troy rides her in all her trackwork and he was her strapper when she won the ATC Oaks and he’ll have first refusal of the ride,’’ said Bruce Perry, who manages owner Lib Petagna’s bloodstock portfolio.
‘‘She’s had a jump-out and she’s coming up very well. We’re all happy with her and she will be going straight to Hawke’s Bay for the Tarzino Trophy.’’
Sofia Rosa’s performance in the opening Group I event of the season on September 2 will decide the rest of her year.
‘‘At this stage, the intention is to race on for another season, but that depends on how she goes and otherwise we could look at putting her in foal,’’ Perry said.
‘‘There’s a few options and if she runs well first-up we could head toward the last two legs at Hawke’s Bay or even look at Melbourne.’’
Sofia Rosa hasn’t raced since she finished third in the Group II Travis Stakes at Te Rapa in the autumn.
Petagna also races the Savabeel mare Nicoletta, who enjoyed a rewarding three-yearold season and she is being aimed toward the Group I Livamol Classic at Hastings.
‘‘She’s back in work and looking well,’’ Perry said. ‘‘She has developed with a good break.’’
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Nicoletta won the Group III Desert Gold Stakes last season and placed in the Group II Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic. She was spelled after finishing fourth in the Group I New Zealand Oaks.