A Group Two placing isn’t usually considered disappointing but connections of Tupakara had been hoping for more in the Tea Rose Stakes.
The three-year-old was sent out a clear cut favourite after motoring home for second to Apocalyptic first-up but ridden handier to the speed last start she finished a battling third behind the same filly, beaten two lengths.
Co-trainer Annabel Archibald said she originally thought Tupakara may not have appreciated settling closer but in hindsight felt that wasn’t an excuse.
“My initial thought was that but the winner was three-wide outside us covering ground and they went a second slower than standard to the corner,” Archibald said.
“It’s all well and good saying, ‘ride her quieter’ but when it’s a slow tempo, it’s probably more so just a flat second-up run.
“But we won’t be bustling her out of the gates. We will just ride her where she’s happy.”
Tupakara will face a rematch with Apocalyptic in the final leg of the four-race Princess Series, the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
She has the outside draw to contend with in barrier 11 but while her last start conqueror extends to a mile for the first time, Tupakara has experience over the course and distance having finished third in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) at two.
Archibald admits she will need to find something extra to turn the tables but hopes the step up in distance might be a factor.
“They’ve all got a bit of improving to do to catch the favourite but she worked really well (on Tuesday) morning and she’s third-up,” Archibald said.
“She went very close in the Champagne as a two-year-old so we know the mile here suits and she is rock-hard fit.”
“The favourite looks very smart but they’re three-year-old fillies. They are all fairly lightly raced and anything can happen.”
Archibald has scratched Next Jen from the Flight Stakes in preference for the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) where she has a better draw with blinkers going on the filly for the first time.
