New Zealand mare Coventina Bay will attempt to ascend the Queensland throne when she lines-up in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm next week.
After pleasing with a trial win at the Sunshine Coast earlier this month, she finished seventh in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday, but trainer Robbie Patterson was still happy with her effort.
“She just got into a position that she couldn’t get out of, she got stuck on the fence, and it wasn’t the place to be,” he said. “It chopped up on the inside and it was just circumstances that we ended up there.
“But I was happy with the run and she has pulled up well. It’s onwards and upwards from here.
“She has got the feel of the track now with the run under her belt and she will improve, which she will need to. I am really happy with her.”
Coventina Bay is in search of her first Group One victory, having finished runner-up in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) behind Avantage, her only other start at elite-level.
Meanwhile, stablemate Puntura’s winning streak came to an end at Eagle Farm on Saturday in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m), where he tailed the 10-horse field home.
While disappointed with the run, Patterson said Puntura put on a lot of condition since arriving in Brisbane and he will take plenty of improvement from the run.
“He has just done too well since he got here. He just knocked up,” Patterson said.
“He has put 30 kilos on since he has been here. We kept the work up to him, but he has just thrived.”
His main goal remains the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) on the Sunshine Coast next month, but Patterson said he will reassess his path after his next run at Doomben.
“He is going to back-up next Wednesday at Doomben,” he said. “As long as he goes well at Doomben, and improves, we will head to the Winx Guineas.”