Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) favourite Tajana warmed up for her next feature assignment with an exhibition gallop between races at Taupo on Friday.

The Darci Brahma filly has had two starts as a three-year-old this season for two Group Three victories, capturing the Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka on August 16 and the Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 20.

Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray are building her towards next Saturday’s Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie, which will be her final lead-up for the 1000 Guineas three weeks later. The TAB rates Tajana a $3.50 chance for the Riccarton classic, sharing favouritism with Lollapalooza.

“I was delighted with her gallop at Taupo on Friday, it was exactly what we were hoping for,” Ritchie said. “With four weeks between races, we decided not to trial her with this unfortunate run of wet tracks we’ve been having for trial meetings. We thought a day out at Taupo would just tighten her up that little bit to have her ready to go in the Soliloquy next Saturday.

“We weren’t chasing time, but she dragged George Rooke down the straight and past the finish line. Even when she was cantering back, George had a bit of trouble easing her up. She went past the birdcage and up the straight a little bit. It shows she hasn’t lost any of her eagerness to run.

“We think she’s all set for the Soliloquy, while still leaving that 10 percent of further improvement up our sleeve leading into the 1000 Guineas. That’s the right race for her and her grand final for this preparation. With three weeks and a flight in between times, we think she’ll be right where we want her to be.”

Tajana is now likely to be the only 1000 Guineas representative for the Ritchie-Murray stable, with impressive last-start Te Rapa winner Transcend set to do her future racing in Australia.

-By Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk