Tiley identified the precocious juvenile as Lot 944 in Book 2 of last year's New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in the Windsor Park Stud draft and ultimately paid $40,000 for the daughter of one of his favourite stallions.
But the former champion jockey turned trainer admitted she was not the first horse on his short-list, with Tiley noted as a trader of horses and the Asian markets preferring colts and geldings.
"I went to the sales really adamant that I wanted to buy a colt by Showcasing. The stallion is no longer shuttling to New Zealand and there weren't going to be too many opportunities left to buy them," he said. "We tried to buy a few colts and just could not get warm."
The Pukekohe conditioner has taken great heart from the fact jockey James McDonald was keen to return to New Zealand to ride Play That Song in the Karaka Million after partnering the filly to victory in the Eclipse Stakes.
"James was adamant that he wanted to come back and ride her," he said.
"He was very bullish after she won the Eclipse. He gave me some very positive feedback about her, so when you get a rider of his calibre that gets off and says 'can I ride her in the Karaka Million,' you've got to be very pleased." – NZ Racing Desk
