She returned from an injury-forced break at the Te Awamutu trials on Tuesday to
impressively win her 1000 metre open heat."At this stage we're finalising plans whether she campaigns in Brisbane and it's looking quite likely," trainer Jason Bridgman said.
The $A500,000 Gr.1 Winter Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares to be run under weight-for-age conditions at Eagle Farm on June 21 would be the prime target for the three-year-old if she performed up to expectations in lead-up events.
The winner of the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in the spring, Costa Viva then finished runner-up to Hera at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic.
The daughter of Encosta de Lago hasn't raced since she headed south to Wellington a month later to run third in the Gr.2 Desert Gold Stakes.
"She had a foot complaint after the Desert Gold which caused her to perform below her best," Bridgman said.
"She was quite lame so we turned her out and she's come back and she pulled up well after her trial."
Meanwhile, stablemate and fellow three-year-old Angelica Hall was a victim of circumstance when runner-up last time out and is primed to go one better in Saturday's Gr.3 Cambridge Jockey Club Breeders' Stakes at Te Rapa.
"She got beaten at Awapuni where she flew the gates and nothing else wanted to lead," Bridgman said.
Runner-up to Bounding two runs back in the Gr.3 Mr Tiz Trophy, Angelica Hall is better ridden off the pace as she showed with wins at her first two starts at Matamata and Ellerslie.
"She's back to 1200 metres on Saturday and I think she'll be right back to her best form," Bridgman said. – NZ Racing Desk.
