O’Reilly filly in line for Group One homecoming

Breednet - Tuesday September 26
Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani is giving serious thought to sending his Kiwi-bred filly Tigeen home for a Group One opportunity.

Matt CumaniHe has the daughter of O'Reilly entered in the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and plans for a trip to Christchurch in November could firm up later this week.

Tigeen continued a good run for Cumani with his 2016 Karaka purchases when she was successful on debut at Benalla over 1400m earlier this month.

"I'm still working out what distance is best for her and if she can learn to settle," he said.

"She ran a little keenly first-up so she's stepping up to a mile at Bendigo on Thursday and that will give us a line on her.

"She's in the 1000 Guineas here, but that might come up a bit quickly for her so the Guineas in New Zealand is a potential Group One target.

"She's owned by my parents so breeding is definitely the aim for her later on."

Cumani's mother Sara operates Fittocks Stud in England while his father Luca, an internationally-successful trainer, has his stables at nearby Newmarket.

A $220,000 purchase out of Little Avondale Stud's draft, Tigeen was signed for by Matt Cumani and bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.

She is out of the English-bred Green Desert mare Knocknacrea, who is from the family of the Luca Cumani-trained Gr.1 Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m) winner Markofdistinction.

"Of the five yearlings we bought at Karaka only one has disappointed, but he needs more time," Matt Cumani said.

Greycliffe was purchased out of Lyndhurst Farm's consignment for $250,000 and the Tavistock colt was successful at Casterton earlier this month.

"He's flying, he won a weak race, but he got out of some serious trouble on the rail to win really well," Cumani said.

Redwood's son Mighty Quinn, purchased for $40,000 from Blackbridge's draft, has placed in both of his runs and requires one scratching for a start in Wednesday's VRC Derby Trial (1800m) at Flemington.

Mighty Quinn and Greycliffe are both also entered in the Gr.2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Another New Zealand acquisition is Own Sweet Way, an Iffraaj gelding secured for $110,000 from Trelawney Stud's draft, who has placed in both of his starts.– NZ Racing Desk.

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