New Zealand training partners Roger James and Robert Wellwood have not completely ruled out a Sydney Cup start for Rondinella after her Group One third in the Tancred Stakes.
James said they would wait until after the weekend’s racing to make a decision.
“It was the intention that she come straight home, but the owners were keen to leave her there for a week to assess the situation and make a decision,” James told NZ Racing Desk.
The mare finished 2-1/2 lengths from the winner Avilius in the Tancred at her first attempt at 2400 metres.
“It is a consideration at this stage (Sydney Cup) and we will make a final decision after the weekend,” James said.
“Two miles (3200m) is a specialist race and you don’t know until you try really but she did answer the question on Saturday that she would get the mile and a half.
Her jockey Sam Clipperton was pleased with how she travelled and finished the race off saying the heavy conditions were against her.
“He got off and said we had been robbed by the weather,” James said. “He said she had travelled beautifully everywhere but when he went to let her down she wandered in the track and the second horse ran past her very easily and he thought he was going to leave her in his wake.
“Then when he balanced her up she got back at it, I think he had put three quarters of a length on us and we were only a head behind on the line. He did say she wasn’t happy on the ground, which we knew beforehand.”
