Written by Paul Vettise
Leading filly Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) arrives at a fork in the road of her career at Trentham when she has a second crack at a Group 1 feature over 1600 metres and trainer Ben Foote is confident she can make a bold statement.
The 3-year-old has suffered only one defeat from five appearances, and while some may doubt her ability to win over a mile, her Cambridge-based conditioner is bullish about her chances in the G1 Woodridge Homes Levin Classic.
“Trentham will tell us where we head. There are a couple of fillies’ races over a bit more ground in the lead-up to the Oaks and the Derby,” Foote said. “If she doesn’t run the mile out as strongly l as I think she will we’ll look at other options, but I reckon she will.”
Travelling Light won her first three starts, including the G3 Soliloquy S., before she went to Riccarton for the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. She made the running there and was gunned down late by Loire (Redoute’s Choice) and Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
“She was gawking around at Riccarton and being in front and on the rail was always going to make her vulnerable,” Foote said. “That cost us winning the race and I’m not worried about the distance.
“The only thing I am a bit worried about is if she gets to the front too soon so we’ll map a plan to try and make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“She was gawking around at Riccarton and being in front and on the rail was always going to make her vulnerable.” - Ben Foote
One of her chief rivals is Riodini (NZ) (Proisir), who was beaten for the first time in five starts when runner-up in the G2 Auckland Guineas, and Foote believes his presence will work in Travelling Light’s favour.
“He runs on the pace and he’s the type of horse that might give us a good track into the race,” he said.
Jockey Samantha Collett has been the regular rider of both 3-year-olds and she has opted to ride Travelling Light.
El Roca, sire of Travelling Light (NZ)
“The owners of both of these horses have been super loyal to me all the way through. The only time I didn’t ride Riodini was when I was in Christchurch to ride Travelling Light, so Mick (Coleman) rode him at Tauranga,” she said.
“The only time I missed the ride on Travelling Light was when I was suspended on Boxing Day and Jason (Waddell) took the ride.
“So that part of it is tough, but at the same time it’s a nice decision to have to make. I just hope I’ve made the right call.”
“She and Riodini were both beaten in their only start at 1600 metres, so I guess there’s a bit of a query at the distance for both of them. I feel like Travelling Light is getting stronger all the time and should be able to stretch out over that sort of trip without too much trouble.”
Back in top form
Travelling Light returned to winnings ways last time out at Ellerslie where she beat Harlech (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), a race rival again, in the Listed Uncle Remus S.
“I certainly can’t fault the filly and I’m sure she’s going to be very competitive again,” Foote said.
Travelling Light is prepared by Foote for her Tauranga breeder Coll McRury and their association started a decade ago with the filly’s dam Cissy Bowen (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}).
“I got the mother after she had one start for Jakki Good and she didn’t fire at all. She just got beaten first-up for me and that was the start of my association with Con,” Foote said.
Cissy Bowen went on to win five races and Foote prepared her first foal The Great Southern (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) to win and place in the G2 Wellington Guineas.
“We sold half of him and race him with Stephen Gray in Singapore,” he said. “I’ve got Cissy Bowen’s Proisir 2-year-old filly, who will trial at Matamata next week, and a Charm Spirit yearling colt will head to Sam Beatson’s soon to be broken in.”
