Top Wanganui mare O’Fille is enjoying her usual surf and turf routine in her build-up toward the spring features.
The rising seven-year-old is in the closing stages of a successful career that trainer Wayne Marshment hopes can be crowned by Group One success this preparation.
“She’s been back a fair while and she’s coming up really well,” he said. “She does most of her work at the beach and she did go to the track this (Tuesday) morning.
“She’s galloping half-miles so she’s not that far away, but it will depend on the tracks for her.”
Conditions permitting, the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown carnival will be the focus for O’Fille, who has been nominated for all three legs of the series.
“You have to just in case you miss the first or the second one for any reason,” Marshment said.
“At this stage, she’ll probably have a couple of jump-outs here and then go straight to Hastings for the Makfi.”
O’Fille has won six of her 27 starts with dual Group Three success in the Cuddle and Trentham Stakes to her credit, along with the Listed Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes.
She was also runner-up to Historian in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
“Her run at Auckland was huge in her first time that way around,” Marshment said.
O’Fille’s record further features Group Two placings in the Cal Isuzu and Travis Stakes (twice) and at Listed level in the Breeders’ Stakes and Wanganui Cup.
The daughter of O’Reilly hasn’t raced since she was unplaced on a hard Trentham track in the Gr.2 Wellington Cup.
“It took her six months to get over that,” Marshment said.