Star mare Guiseppina is in full swing for her spring return and turned in a good gallop at Taupo mid-week with a number of her stable mates also making the trip south.

Trainers Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie had a highly successful 2011/12 season headlined with Guiseppina (Johar) who produced a brilliant performance to win the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap in January and place in the Group 1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic.

“Guiseppina is coming along really well,” commented Steven Ramsay. “She had a good gallop at Taupo on Wednesday and we are looking at galloping her between races at Te Rapa next weekend.

“She will be heading to the Group 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hawke’s Bay first up and she is also nominated for the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). She really needs a firm surface to be at her best so we are hoping Hawke’s Bay can produce a good track for her return.”

Stable mate Papillio (Redoute’s Choice), winner of the Listed South Island Breeders’ Stakes last season, is also likely to head to Hawke’s Bay on Challenge Stakes day to contest the rating 85 event.

Another exciting horse that made the trip to Taupo was the three-year-old filly Pure Elegance (Redoute’s Choice) who won her only start last season by an easy five-and-a-half-lengths.

“She is also coming along very well,” said Ramsay. “We will give her a trial in the near future and we are looking at targeting the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes with her first up.”

“We also have a number of young three-year-olds heading to the trials in the next few weeks including the Encosta de Lago filly from Ethereal, an Exceed and Excel filly from the Group 1 NZ Derby placed Uberalles and a Darci Brahma filly from Santagostino.”