Mare ready for mile stakes test

Talented northern four-year-old Somethingvain is in the right order to progress to the next level at Tauherenikau on Monday.

The Pukekohe galloper has yet to win beyond 1400 metres, but her connections are confident the mile won’t trouble her in the Listed WRC/Pope & Gray Contractors Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes.

Somethingvain has fashioned the tidy record of five wins from 12 starts with her latest success a defeat of Antonio Lombardo and Gustavo over 1400 metres at Tauranga last month.

“We put her in that open handicap to set her up for Monday,” said Michael Rogers, who prepares the mare with his brother Matt and their father Matthew.

“It’s a race that suits her and it doesn’t matter to her whether she goes left or right-handed.

“She’s going great and she’s come through her last run really well. She’s earned her shot at some black type.”

Somethingvain’s only previous attempt over 1600m resulted in an unplaced effort at Riccarton last season in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes, although Rogers said it wasn’t the trip that brought about her downfall.

“She was a weaker version then, but it was the bad track that beat her. We think she’ll get a mile quite easily and so does Cameron (Lammas), who rode her last time.”

Lammas was deputising at Tauranga for Sam Spratt, who will take over the reins on Monday after riding Somethingvain in her previous four wins.

Safely through Tauherenikau, Rogers said the Gr.2 Westbury Classic during the cup carnival at Ellerslie on March 12 might be the next target for the daughter of Falkirk.