G1 Mare to visit City of Troy

Media Release - Monday August 11

Group One performer Faraglioni recorded one of her biggest moments on the track when runner-up in last year’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), but she won’t feature in the renamed Proisir Plate at Ellerslie next month.

Group One performer Faraglioni has been retired to the broodmare paddock.  Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

The now seven-year-old daughter of El Roca has been retired to the broodmare paddock after injuring a suspensory ligament in June.

“She was getting ready for that fillies and mares race at Tauranga (Listed Tauranga Classic) over 1400m at the end of June, but she tweaked a suspensory 10 days before that,” trainer Josh Shaw said.

“We just did the best thing by the horse rather than trying to get her up and going again.”

Bred by Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham and Arkle Bloodstock’s Demi O'Byrne, Faraglioni was entrusted to the care of Levin-based Shaw and she took the trio on a great ride.

She won on debut as a three-year-old over 1400m at Hastings and went on to record a further four victories in her 28 subsequent starts.

While she failed to record and elusive stakes victory, she featured prominently in a number of the country’s topflight contests, including a golden run two years ago where she posted consecutive runner-up performances in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), and Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m).

She would go onto post the same result in last year’s Tarzino Trophy and Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).

Shaw said Faraglioni came along at a great time, picking up the baton from the stable’s former star, Group Two winner Hinepara.

“It was great to have her come along quite quickly after Hinepara to keep us out there,” he said.

Advertisement

“She was pretty good. She had a great run two years ago, including the Group One placing in the TAB Classic, and to go to Hastings and to be as competitive as she was in the Tarzino was pretty awesome.

“She was second on five occasions in Group Ones and Group Twos, which is a pretty good effort, but she just couldn’t crack that Group One victory, which was unfortunate for her.

“We have just got to try and find another one if we can now.”

City of Troy (USA), click for more info.

Shaw said Faraglioni has retired to Curraghmore in the Waikato and is set to head across the Tasman where she has a date with Coolmore stallion City Of Troy.

“She has gone back to Gordon (Cunningham, Curraghmore principal),” Shaw said. “Speaking with Gordon, I think he has ambitions of sending her to Australia to go to City Of Troy. It will be pretty exciting to see what she leaves to him.”

While Shaw has lost his stable star, he is excited about the future with her U S Navy Flag half-sister Chart The Stars.

“She has been back in a month now and I’ll look to trial her at Foxton next week. We will head there and then sort out a campaign for her,” he said.

“She has got an abundance of ability, but just at the moment the brain is a bit quicker than the feet. Once her brain slows down enough for her feet to be able to keep up, she will be right there.

“She has the same sort of temperament as Faraglioni, but they are chalk and cheese physically. She is a lovely filly.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Golden Rose Colts – Sires of the Future
The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
La Dorada Chasing Redemption at Valley
Last season’s champion NZ two-year-old La Dorada will be out to prove her ability against her Australian counterparts on Friday night when she contests the Gr.3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
30 Runners in Goffs Million!
The stage is set for Europe’s richest two-year-old race, the Goffs Million (7f), which has attracted a maximum field of 30 runners at the Curragh this Saturday and the €1 million contest, with prize money down to 10th, is only open to graduates of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
Manhattan Rain Gold Rush in WA
Geisel Park won’t be the only WA breeder on board when the first locally-conceived 2yo crop of its Group 1 sire Manhattan Rain get mobile this season.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Richard Johnston has bred some very good horses under his Bylong Park banner including triple Group I winner Think It Over and an Anders three year-old he bred and races was an eye-catching debut winner at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Golden Rose Sires Where Are They Now?
Since the $1million Golden Rose was elevated to Group I status in 2009 it has been won in every single year bar one by a colt with the lone gelding to succeed being Manawanui in 2011 and winning this race is a passport to a commercial stud career, so we thought we’d take a look at the fortunes of the past winners who have gone to stud in Australia.
Inglis Confirm Skybird for Everest Slot
Inglis is thrilled to confirm G1 winner Skybird (Exosphere) as our representative for the running of the $20m The Everest.
Breeding to Win - 2025 Manikato Stakes
Racing at The Valley on Grand Final Eve in Melbourne - the southern capital doing what it does best, bringing people together in celebration of sporting greatness!
Horse Trading Stock Issues to Avoid
One of the key areas in thoroughbred taxation is accounting for trading stock and ensuring the tax closing value is properly ascertained. You’d be quite surprised of the enormous difference to the tax position of any racing player where trading stock problems occur.
Spring Juvenile Contest at Otaki on Friday
Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell is excited about the prospects of his promising juvenile Singletary, and he is looking forward to kicking off his career in the Vets On Riverbank Two-Year-Old (800m) at his home track on Friday.