Flight Stakes Audition For Tap This In Tea Rose Stakes

Promising filly Tap This will have the chance to prove that she is worthy of a place in the 2015 Flight Stakes field when she contests the Tea Rose Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Tap This finished fifth behind Metallic Crown in the 2015 Ming Dynasty Quality. Photo by: Steve Hart

Tap This finished fifth behind Metallic Crown in the 2015 Ming Dynasty Quality. Photo by: Steve Hart

Tap This was given four barrier trials before she made her racing debut with a narrow victory in the Capital One Real Estate Maiden (1200m) at Wyong on March 22 and she was sent to the spelling paddock to begin preparations for her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign after she finished a credible third in the Pro-Ride Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on April 8.

The Tapit filly returned to the races with a second place finish behind Raphael’s Cat in the More Than Ready At Vinery Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on August 19 and she was beaten by just over a length in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 5.

Co-trainer Peter Snowden said that he was happy with the performance of Tap This in the Ming Dynasty Quality and he is hopeful that she will do enough in the 2015 Tea Rose Stakes to justify giving her an opportunity at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick

“I thought she ran well,” Snowden told Racing Ahead.

“I think she is going to get better as she gets further.

“She is a nice, tough filly that really enjoys her work and she is coming along nicely.

“Her two runs have both been solid and she will run in another 1400 metres race on Saturday with the view of running in the Flight Stakes.”

The 2015 Tea Rose Stakes nominations were released yesterday and 18 fillies remain in contention to contest the Group 2 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Gai Waterhouse is set to be well represented in the race after he included Kimberley Star, Flamboyant Lass and Sempre Libera in the nominations, while Godolphin could have the likes of Ottoman, Italy and Pearls in the race.

Snowden is chasing his second win in the Tea Rose Stakes after he took out the 2013 edition of the race with Guelph, while he won the Flight Stakes in the same year with Guelph and was only narrowly denied in the race with both Parables (third behind Secret Admirer in 2010) and Portillo (second behind Samantha Miss in 2008).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.