A slashing run for second in Friday's A$217,000 Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at The Valley was just what the doctor ordered for trainer Roger James and his quality mare Rondinella.
James, who prepares the 5-year-old Ocean Park mare at Cambridge with training partner Robert Wellwood, was keen to seejust how his charge would handle the unique Moonee Valley track as well as her first attempt at racing under lights.
After being held up at a vital stage approaching the home corner, Rondinella saw daylight a fraction too late as she charged through a gap to finish second to Group One winner Princess Jenni.
James was delighted with the run, which was the mare's second in a campaign that has the iconic Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) back at The Valley on October 26 as her main aim.
"I thought she went very well and might have even won with a little more luck around that top bend," James said. "It's certainly no disgrace to finish behind Princess Jenni as she is a high-class mare.
"The race will do her the world of good as she had just had the one run on a very deep track at Ellerslie before coming over. She will have one more run before the Cox Plate but I'm not sure where that will be just yet.
"I'm going to have a chat to the handicapper first but she could line up at weight-for-age over 2000m [Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes] at Caufield in a fortnight or the Coongy Cup [Group 3, 2000m] there four days later."
Should James choose the Coongy Cup for Rondinella she could clash again with fellow New Zealand mare Consensus, with the Stephen McKee-prepared 8-year-old a gritty fifth behind Princess Jenni on Friday after racing three-wide for most of the 1600m journey.
Kiwi trainer Tony Pike was another who left The Valley on Friday night with plenty to be pleased about despite class sprinter The Bostonian only finishing ninth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m).
Forced to race wide throughout after jumping from barrier 13, The Bostonian made up good ground in the 1000m dash to finish within two lengths of winner Nature Strip.
"He pulled up well so he is most likely to have a go at the Schillaci Stakes [Group 2, 1100m] at Caulfield on October 12 next."
The winner of the Schillaci Stakes will be offered the slot held by the ATC and MRC in the A$14 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.
