Levin horse trainer Josh Shaw has stable star Faraglioni back in work.
Levin horse trainer Josh Shaw has stable star Faraglioni back in work.
Levin horseman Josh Shaw has trained the winner of the Levin Horse of the Year title for the third year running.
With the racing season drawing to a close on July 31, the feats of his star mare, Faraglioni, over the past 12 months would behard to surpass and the cup is already in the hands of the engraver.
The Levin Horse of the Year trophy was introduced by the late Paul Pearce in the late 1980s. Pearce was a former Levin Racing Club committee member and owner of the local TAB outlet.
LRC has continued to present the award each season since Pearce died in 2021, in keeping with his wishes.
The town is seldom without a good horse and has produced some brilliant ones to have been awarded the trophy since it was introduced — the likes of Our Maizcay, Shuzohra, Cinder Bella, Candide, Rock on Wood, Spiro, Captain Cook, Sandsend, Sculptor, Rodin, Empyreal, Lady Madonna, Lordshop, Lord Monty and Quality Kingdom.
Shaw produced the winner of the trophy in 2022 and last year through the deeds of good staying mare Hinepara, who has since been retired to stud.
Levin mare Hinepara, pictured at home with the Avondale Cup in 2022.
His star Faraglioni was only recently returned to the stable after having a decent spell in the paddock.
Shaw was happy with Faraglioni’s condition, having not seen her in the flesh for a fair few months. “She has done well with the break and looks to have come back a lot stronger for it,” he said.
Faraglioni was lightly raced and measured up to town hall company last season with a Group 1 second-placing behind Desert Lightning in the $400,000 TAB Classic at Trentham in December, backed up by a game second to Beclare in the $500,000 Westbury Classic at Ellerslie in late January.
Levin mare Faraglioni pictured winning at Trentham in November. Photo / Race Images NZ
With everything going to plan, Shaw will nominate Faraglioni for the $400,000 Tarzino Trophy WFA at Hastings on September 7 as an immediate target, conscious there were plenty of black-type opportunities through the summer months if there were to be a hiccup along the way.
“She does come to hand quickly, but we’ll take it week by week,” he said.
Levin horse trainer Josh Shaw.
Shaw said he would love to gain a major race win with Faraglioni for her syndicate of owners, with friends and close family involved in her lease. “She’s still a young mare and hasn’t been knocked around so, hopefully, the best is yet to come,” he said.
