O’Reilly filly in line for Group One homecoming

26 September 2017

Tigeen (NZ) in the mounting yard after winning the Bertolis Farm Machinery F&M Maiden Plate on September 04, 2017 in Benalla, Australia. (David Thorpe/Racing Photos)

Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani is giving serious thought to sending his Kiwi-bred filly Tigeen home for a Group One opportunity.

He has the daughter of O’Reilly entered in the Gr.1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and plans for a trip to Christchurch in November could firm up later this week.

Tigeen continued a good run for Cumani with his 2016 Karaka purchases when she was successful on debut at Benalla over 1400m earlier this month.

“I’m still working out what distance is best for her and if she can learn to settle,” he said.

“She ran a little keenly first-up so she’s stepping up to a mile at Bendigo on Thursday and that will give us a line on her.

“She’s in the 1000 Guineas here, but that might come up a bit quickly for her so the Guineas in New Zealand is a potential Group One target.

“She’s owned by my parents so breeding is definitely the aim for her later on.”

Cumani’s mother Sara operates Fittocks Stud in England while his father Luca, an internationally-successful trainer, has his stables at nearby Newmarket.

A $220,000 purchase out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft, Tigeen was signed for by Matt Cumani and bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo.

She is out of the English-bred Green Desert mare Knocknacrea, who is from the family of the Luca Cumani-trained Gr.1 Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m) winner Markofdistinction.

First Crop Trial Success For Noverre

Improving off her recent trial effort, the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 2yo Noverre filly Firebird (NZ) trialled in sensational style at Te Awamutu on Tuesday morning, becoming the first trial winner for the G1-winning …

15 November 2025

Ardrossan 4YO Has Taken His Record Even Further

With the final race of the day at Caulfield on Saturday, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained 4yo Ardrossan gelding Taken started the narrow second elect in the betting. From his prior nine …