Distance will be the key factor on trainer Darryn Weatherley’s mind as he chases a Group 3 double at Pukekohe tomorrow.
While he is sure the distance of the Championship Stakes is ideal for three-year-old Arby, he admits the Easter Mile is a throw at the stumps with speedster mare Maria Farina.
Maria Farina has raced past 1400m only once — 1500m in January last year — but has been a huge late-season improver over 1200 and 1400m in recent weeks.
She is in career-best form and with tomorrow being the last race of her campaign, her Matamata trainer thinks the Easter is the right race to see whether he has a sprinter-miler for next season, or just a sprinter.
“We considered the 1200m race with her on Saturday as well but she is in great form and this is our chance to find out whether she can get to a mile,” says Weatherley.