Annabel and Rob Archibald are confident a key gear change can help talented filly Tupakara break through for her maiden win when she lines up in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick.
The three-year-old has been consistent at black-type level, placing in four of her seven starts, including a Group 1 third behind Nepotism in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old.
Tupakara resumed this campaign with a strong effort when runner-up to Apocalyptic in the Furious Stakes (1200m), and on Saturday she will wear blinkers for the first time. Star jockey James McDonald retains the ride after partnering her first-up.
“She is a lovely, honest horse,” Annabel Archibald said.
“When you’ve got ‘J Mac’ on it helps and we’ve added the blinkers as well.
“She was a bit on and off the bridle the other day and we were ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ whether to go winkers or blinkers or save them for the mile (of the Flight Stakes).
“But James came and galloped her on Tuesday and we put them on and she worked really well in them so we’ve put them on (race day).”
Tupakara will be joined by stablemates Kujenga and Next Jen in the Tea Rose. Both contested the Furious Stakes, finishing fourth and seventh respectively, and Archibald says the trio are not far apart despite market preference for Tupakara.
“Tupakara, she was the one that drew poorly and beat all bar one last start so she is probably the obvious horse but I do find it hard to split them,” Archibald said.
“Next Jen’s run was good. She got held up a couple of times and she has got an inside draw. She will just need to break cleanly and put herself there but she did jump well the other day.
“Kujenga was terrific off one trial so she was always going to take big improvement from it as well.”
All three fillies step to 1400 metres on Saturday, a distance the stable feels will suit as they build towards the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in two weeks’ time, the final leg of the Princess Series.
Punters eager to back Tupakara or her stablemates in the Tea Rose Stakes can find markets at Australia’s leading betting sites.