Group One performer Faraglioni recorded one of her biggest moments on the track when runner-up in last year’s Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m), but she won’t feature in the renamed Proisir Plate at Ellerslie next month.
The now seven-year-old daughter of El Roca has been retired to the broodmare paddock after injuring a suspensory ligament in June.
“She was getting ready for that fillies and mares race at Tauranga (Listed Tauranga Classic) over 1400m at the end of June, but she tweaked a suspensory 10 days before that,” trainer Josh Shaw said.
“We just did the best thing by the horse rather than trying to get her up and going again.”
Bred by Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham and Arkle Bloodstock’s Demi O’Byrne, Faraglioni was entrusted to the care of Levin-based Shaw and she took the trio on a great ride.
She won on debut as a three-year-old over 1400m at Hastings and went on to record a further four victories in her 28 subsequent starts.
While she failed to record and elusive stakes victory, she featured prominently in a number of the country’s topflight contests, including a golden run two years ago where she posted consecutive runner-up performances in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), and Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m).
She would go onto post the same result in last year’s Tarzino Trophy and Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m).
Shaw said Faraglioni came along at a great time, picking up the baton from the stable’s former star, Group Two winner Hinepara.
“It was great to have her come along quite quickly after Hinepara to keep us out there,” he said.
“She was pretty good. She had a great run two years ago, including the Group One placing in the TAB Classic, and to go to Hastings and to be as competitive as she was in the Tarzino was pretty awesome.
“She was second on five occasions in Group Ones and Group Twos, which is a pretty good effort, but she just couldn’t crack that Group One victory, which was unfortunate for her.
“We have just got to try and find another one if we can now.”
Shaw said Faraglioni has retired to Curraghmore in the Waikato and is set to head across the Tasman where she has a date with Coolmore stallion City Of Troy.
“She has gone back to Gordon (Cunningham, Curraghmore principal),” Shaw said. “Speaking with Gordon, I think he has ambitions of sending her to Australia to go to City Of Troy. It will be pretty exciting to see what she leaves to him.”
While Shaw has lost his stable star, he is excited about the future with her U S Navy Flag half-sister Chart The Stars.
“She has been back in a month now and I’ll look to trial her at Foxton next week. We will head there and then sort out a campaign for her,” he said.
“She has got an abundance of ability, but just at the moment the brain is a bit quicker than the feet. Once her brain slows down enough for her feet to be able to keep up, she will be right there.
“She has the same sort of temperament as Faraglioni, but they are chalk and cheese physically. She is a lovely filly.”