Black type events on in-form mare’s programme

Jiayuguan’s upset victory at Avondale on Anzac Day didn’t come as any surprise to her trainer.

“We thought she would go close – she had trialled up super and her work had been very good as well,” Cambridge horseman Tony Pike said.

The Irish-bred daughter of Teofilo was first-up following a break and she finished determinedly in the hands of Leith Innes to down the capable pair of Zambezi Warrior and Sultan Of Swing.

“It was a pretty strong race for a midweek Rating 85 and she got a nice trip behind a solid speed and just outstayed them the last bit,” Pike said.

Jiayuguan joined Pike’s team last year after beginning her career in France where she was a winner over 1950 metres and was a Listed placegetter at Chantilly.

She subsequently transferred to John Thompson’s Sydney operation and during her time in Australia she won a further three races and finished runner-up in the Listed Xmas Cup at Randwick.

Raced by the China Horse Club, Jiayuguan joined Pike’s stable last spring with her best efforts a third placing in the Gr.3 Counties Cup before a solid fifth in the Gr.3 Waikato Gold Cup.

“She jarred up on the summer tracks so we put her out and she’s come back really well,” Pike said.

“She could go into the Rotorua Cup second up over 2200 metres, although I wouldn’t want to run her on a really heavy track so the Wanganui Cup is another option.”

The Gr.3 Campbell Infrastructure Rotorua Cup will be run on May 13 with the Listed Civics @ Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup on June 3.