Racing: Daffodil to sprint well fresh

Good-class mare Daffodil starts a new campaign in a 1000m sprint at New Plymouth tomorrow - and showed she was forward for it with a win at the Otaki trials on Tuesday.

Daffodil, who won the AJC Australian Oaks last autumn, beat dual group one winner Vosne Romanee by 1 lengths over 1000m on Tuesday, with smart filly Eileen Dubh third.

"She went very well and I was pleased with her," trainer Kevin Gray said.

Sprinters, such as Jazzella, Raid, Castles Burning and High Priest could be expected to be too sharp for Daffodil on Saturday, but Gray is expecting to see her finish strongly.

"They will know she is there."

The race is to prepare her for the group one $200,000 Otaki-Maori WFA 1600m on February 28, with the expectation she will then head to Sydney to tackle Australia's best.

Her programme includes the group one Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 21 and then the A$2.25 million weight-for-age BMW (2400m) on April 3. Both races are at Rosehill.

Waikato jockey Opie Bosson rides Daffodil and also takes over on Gray's good juvenile Cellarmaster, who resumes his stirring rivalry with speedy Hastings-trained galloper Jimmy Choux in the group three 2-year-old race, over 1200m.

- NZPA