Trish Dunell
Group One performer Rondinella pleased her connections with her 1100m trial at Taupo on Wednesday ahead of her trip across the Tasman in the coming weeks.
She settled towards the tail of the field before being improved three-wide by jockey Vinnie Colgan and was strong to the line finishing third behind Aretha and Amarula.
“We were very pleased with the hit-out, she certainly needed it,” said Robert Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James.
“She had a nice, natural blow. I have been happy with her preparation, she looks very well and her coat is still to come. She needed the trial today, but I am very happy with her.”
The five-year-old daughter of Ocean Park ran third in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) and fourth in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in autumn and her trainers are aiming to improve on that record this spring.
“We will just see how she pulls up before we firm up plans, but she will probably either step out in the Memsie (Gr.1, 1400m) or Feehan Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m),” Wellwood said.