Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
How to tune into Sport NationTajana on target for Soliloquy after Taupō gallop
Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • October 12th, 2025 12:20 pm
Tajana during her exhibition gallop between races at Taupō on Friday | Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
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.
With the TAB Racing Club’s disbandment, Transcend has been purchased by MyRacehorse and will be transferred into the stable of Michael Freedman.
“The MyRacehorse team has bought her and she’ll be flying out on Monday,” Ritchie said. “We’ll just wait to make sure she gets on the plane before withdrawing her from the 1000 Guineas.
“It’s a shame to see a talented filly like her go, but she’s been a good flagbearer for the stable.
“We understand that MyRacehorse will increasingly introduce themselves into New Zealand racing in time, which has to be a positive for our racing domestically – especially if it keeps classy fillies like Transcend in this country in the future.”
Meanwhile, classy four-year-old Tuxedo has gone out for a spell before being set for the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 24.
The Tivaci gelding won last season’s Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) and finished second in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). He stepped up to Group One weight-for-age level this spring and was beaten by 2.9 lengths when seventh in the Proisir Plate (1600m), then crossed the line 3.2 lengths behind the winner Waitak when sixth in the Howden Insurance Mile (1600m).
“He’s gone for a break,” Ritchie said. “We thought he was a touch unlucky in both of those weight-for-age races. In saying that, against that level of opposition, he probably needed absolutely everything to go his way in order for him to be competitive.
“We just thought pushing on for another spring Group One race over 2040m in the Livamol would be foolish. So he’ll have three weeks out now, and then we’ll prepare him for the Aotearoa Classic with a couple of lead-up runs.
“It’s a mile, against his own age, for $1 million at Ellerslie, so it really looks like the best race for him this season. Further down the track, I think he’ll develop into a real weight-for-age horse.
“Horses like El Vencedor and Waitak have shown that these geldings often only reach their peak as weight-for-age performers when they’re five or six years old. If we’re patient with Tuxedo, I’m hoping it might be a similar story with him.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
