Taraayef impresses first-up at The Valley

Taraayef wins at The Valley.
Jockey Luke Nolen is desperate to stick with Taraayef during the spring after her win at The Valley.

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.”

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments