Racing: Filly at concert pitch for first Group 1 assignment

Play That Song suffered her first defeat in the Karaka Million. Photo / Trish Dunell

Talented juvenile filly Play That Song will be looking for redemption when she tackles the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The Nigel Tiley-trained runner suffered her first defeat last start at the hands of Cool Aza Beel in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie in January, but trainer Nigel Tiley is confident she can turn the tables this weekend. "I thought it was a really good run in the Karaka Million," Tiley said. "He [Cool Aza Beel] probably got the better run and she had to come off his back, but I think on the night he was the better horse.

"She had a short break after the Karaka Million. She had 10 days out and she has come back really well." Tiley said there had been a fair bit of interest in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m) and Group 2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner, but he is keen to test her at elite level before contemplating any offers.

"There has been a little bit of interest in her, but we would be silly to sell her before we had a crack at a Group 1 with her," he said. Tiley is happy with the daughter of Showcasing ahead of Saturday and is looking forward to watching her tackle her first Group 1 assignment.

"I am really happy where she is at fitness-wise," he said. "She had a jumpout on Friday at Pukekohe on the course proper over 1000m. She had a decent blow afterwards, so that will tighten her up a bit."

Tiley is conscious of the number of starts Play That Song has had as a juvenile and he said she will likely have one more start later this month before heading for a spell.
"The Manawatu Sires' Produce [Group 1, 1400m] will be her last start as a 2-year-old.
"I bypassed the fillies race at Matamata because she will have had five runs as a 2-year-old after the Sires' Produce, if we go that way, so I just didn't want to overtax her."

Meanwhile, plans with exciting 3-year-old Riodini have hit a stumbling block after he suffered a paddock injury and Tiley said they are in a race against time to get him ready for the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa next month.

"He was playing around in a paddock at Rich Hill Stud and he pulled a muscle. He is back in work, but we are behind the eight ball a little bit with him," Tiley said.

- NZ Racing Desk