Group 1-winning New Zealand-trained mares Costume and Rising Romance are being aimed at the $3million Group 1 Caulfield Cup, reports Racxing Network.
The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Costume kicked off her spring campaign with a strong-looking second at the Te Teko trials on Tuesday and will resume at Te Rapa on Saturday week in the Group 3 Foxbridge Plate (1200m).
“That was a super trial over 1200m by Costume on Tuesday,” co-trainer Debbie Rogerson said.
“We’ll look to run her in the Foxbridge next weekend and then we will map a plan out for her after that.
"We have the Caulfield Cup in mind for her," she added.
Costume, a daughter of Savabeel, has won five of her 19 starts and earlier this year finished second in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile before winning the Group 1 HS Dyke Stakes over 2000m at weight-for-age.
Meanwhile the Donna Logan-trained Rising Romance, winner of the ATC Australian Oaks in the autumn, is also Caulfield Cup bound.
The four-year-old’s campaign will begin in Sydney next month.
“We’ll be looking at giving her a trial at the end of August and then she’ll run in the Tramway Handicap at Randwick on September 6 and probably the George Main Stakes a fortnight later,” Logan reported to the NZ Racing Desk this week.
Another gun Kiwi of the female equine variety, Silent Achiever, will ramp up her spring preparations this afternoon at Matamata when she has a track gallop in between races.
The Roger James-trained mare was a star of the Sydney autumn, winning the Ranvet Stakes and The BMW.