Jockey Luke Nolen won’t be budged from the saddle of Taraayef after the filly returned with an impressive first-up win at The Valley.
At her first outing since May, Taraayef claimed Saturday’s Hygain Tracktorque Handicap (1000m) coming from the second half of the field.
Backed from $4.20 into $3.60 favouritism, Taarayef recorded victory by a neck from Rumble Doll ($7) with Absolute Flirt ($5.50) 1-3/4 lengths away third.
“Hopefully it’s a deep form race because I’ve hitched my wagon to her for the spring,” Nolen said.
“She’ll improve off that fitness wise as she was getting a little tired in the final stages.”
Lindsay Park has picked out a further two races for Taraayef at The Valley.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes said the filly would return for The Valley’s next meeting on August 24 before a tilt at stakes company in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes on September 7.
Taraayef is a half-sister to Haybah who was a galloper suited to short-course racing while half-brother Muraahib stretched out in distance.
“For the moment we’ll keep her to the sprint distances as she was dominant here and she likes The Valley,” Hayes said.
“It was a good strong win as she looked like she star-gazed once she hit the front.
“We’ll get through her next couple of runs here and hopefully she might stretch out and prove to be a Thousand Guineas filly.”
