Igraine seeks further Cups success

Igraine has proven to be an astute purchase for Brent and Cherry Taylor of Trelawney Stud.

The Taylor’s purchased the Galileo mare as a broodmare proposition for 65,000 Guineas in England through bloodstock agent Paul Moroney and she has quickly added to her value under the care of Robert Priscott.

Igraine has won four of her 11 starts for the Te Awamutu trainer, including the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m) in November and she has also finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) and Listed Hawke’s Bay Cup (2200m).

The six-year-old mare finished third in the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm last start and Priscott believes she is primed to add another stakes victory to her record when she lines-up in the Gr.2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

“She has done really well over here. She’s one of the better ones I have taken away,” he said.

“She has done everything right here. A little bit of experience in England, coming through quarantine, has paid off. She has been very good.

“She was a little bit fresh the other day (in the Premier’s Cup) and just wanted to overdo it in front a little bit, so hopefully that run into her will have taken the edge off her for the mile and a half.”

While originally aiming towards a Sydney campaign with his mare, Priscott said those plans were shelved after Igraine tailed the field home in a 1400m race at Hastings in February.

“We originally thought we were going to go to Sydney, but she didn’t fire in the sprint at Hastings, so we backed off her and targeted her towards here,” he said.

Priscott is hoping for some rainfall before Saturday’s race where Igraine will jump from barrier 12 with jockey Ron Stewart aboard.

“A little bit of rain would help a lot,” he said. “She has been on firm tracks, which doesn’t seem to make much difference to her, but she has shown a preference for rain-affected tracks.

“Hopefully she can get a bit of cover, but her draw doesn’t lend that way. She will have to go forward and maybe end up in front again, but ideally a bit of cover would be great.”

TAB bookmakers have marked Igraine as a $13 winning chance in the Brisbane Cup behind $3.80 race favourite Sixties Groove. – NZ Racing Desk