Taraayef has returned to winning form with a hard-fought narrow victory over the straight course at Flemington.
Saturday’s victory in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) was the filly’s first start at Flemington after earlier victories at Sandown and Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Jye McNeil, Taraayef ($7) scored by a head from Hawker Hurricane ($41) with the $3.30 favourite Wayupinthesky closing for third.
Lindsay Park co-trainer Tom Dabernig said the stable wanted to try Taraayef on the straight course with a view to running the filly at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Dabernig held concerns when Taraayef, having her first start for four weeks, and Hawker Hurricane engaged in a two-horse war over the final 200m.
“I think fresh is her best asset,” Dabernig said.
“She’s a filly that doesn’t need a lot of work and that’s why I was a bit worried when it got into a bit of a dog fight late, but she held on.
“Some horses you need to tip the work into them, but a filly like her, you would tip her over the edge if you did too much.”
Dabernig said Lindsay Park had at one stage rated Taraayef a potential Thousand Guineas filly, but now consider her an out-and-out sprinter.
Taraayef will head back to Lindsay Park’s property at Euroa to prepare for the Group Three Kennedy Plate (1100m) at Flemington on November 7.