The connections of the talented and patiently handled mare Imprevu are aiming high this preparation with their pride and joy.
The daughter of Wrote has already acquitted herself well in black type company and will have an opportunity at Pukekohe Park on Saturday to break through ahead of a tilt at a top-flight sprinting target.
Imprevu will step out in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) following a strong performance when opening her current campaign earlier this month in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m).
Also placed in last season’s Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), the six-year-old rounded off well to finish runner-up at Te Rapa behind the well-performed Babylon Berlin.
“She’s a happy horse and has come through her first run really nicely. She had a good draw and a good ride, I’m very happy and her work has been lovely,” trainer Janenne Dalley said.
“We’re hoping the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) will be her go this time and it sits well for her with the shift back to January 25.
“I can freshen her up a bit more and find a nice lead-up to that, she doesn’t need a lot of racing.”
She will be ridden on Saturday by apprentice Tayla Mitchell, who rides her in work and was reunited last time out after winning a race aboard the mare earlier in her career.
Bred by part-owner David Lunn, Imprevu has put together the tidy record of five wins and 11 placings from her 23 appearances.
“She’s a talented mare and she’s from a very good family that goes back to Pure Lust and nice people to train for,” Dalley said.
Second dam Pure Lust was a multiple stakes winner, who also finished third in both the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2020m) and the Gr.1 Championship Stakes (2100m).
“David doesn’t like to get them up and going too early and she had a trial as a late three-year-old and kicked off as an early four-year-old, the family just needs that bit more time,” Dalley said.
“She was a little bit wayward in her first couple of starts, they just take a little bit to get their heads in the game.”