Jaarffi confirms stakes path

Patiently handled mare Jaarffi emphasised she is on target for higher honours with a hollow victory at Ellerslie.Our homebred daughter of Iffraaj had raced keenly before getting home late for sixth when resuming at Te Rapa a month ago and her racing manners were much improved on her way to a runaway second-up victory over 1200 metres.“We’ll look toward the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes on Counties Cup Day now, it’s a step up to weight-for-age, but the 1400 metres and a long straight will be spot on for her,” trainer Lance Noble said.Jaarffi sat toward the back of a small field at Ellerslie and, once into the clear, she showed an explosive turn of foot to quickly out the issue beyond doubt.“She’s relaxing better with more racing, but she has been a difficult mare and not the easiest to train,” Noble said.Jaarffi was sent out a less than even money favourite and connections were confident of the five-year-old justifying her market support.“Last time, she was very fresh and raced quite fiercely,” successful rider Warren Kennedy said.“We expected her to be heard to beat and when she got into clear air she won effortlessly, we had the race in the bag 250 metres from home.” Jaarffi is a half-sister to the multiple winner and stakes performer Crystal Fountain with their dam the late Redoute’s Choice mare Rose Of Tralee.She was a half-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Serenade Rose with Trekking another multiple top-flight winner on the pedigree page.