Warrnambool mare Turaath ready for Group 1 test in Futurity Stakes at Caulfield

Turaath missed the CF Orr Stakes but trainer Maddie Raymond says the imported mare is ready for her Group 1 test in the Futurity Stakes.

Imported mare will make her first appearance at Group 1 level in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Caution delayed Turaath’s Group 1 debut but trainer Maddie Raymond is happy to test the import in Saturday’s Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

Raymond decided to bypass the CF Orr Stakes after Turaath’s routine pre-race blood picture wasn’t quite perfect.

But Raymond said the five-year-old hadn’t lost any fitness by missing the CF Orr Stakes.

“When you’re heading into a Group 1 race, you want them spot-on,” Raymond said.

“She hasn’t missed any work and she was rock-hard fit anyway after her two 1200m runs so we’re quite happy with her now.”

Jockey Mark Zahra capitalised on Turaath’s absence when controlling the CF Orr Stakes from the front on the winner Tofane.

Tofane might not find the front in the Futurity Stakes as Damian Lane is likely to roll forward on Turaath in the early stages of Saturday’s $750,000 contest.

“She’s a horse that generally puts herself up there on the speed and she’s drawn really well to hold her spot,” Raymond said.

“We’ll leave it up to Damian because he knows her now and he’s one of the best.

“I expect her to be thereabouts.”

Carlyon Cup winner Earlswood will miss the rest of the autumn. Picture: Getty Images

TAB has Turaath as an $11 chance to give Raymond her first Group 1 win.

While Turaath was able to continue her campaign after a scare, the news was not as good for Raymond’s Group 3 Carlyon Cup winner Earlswood.

Earlswood entered Australian Cup calculations with his narrow win at his Australian debut but the import won’t race again this season.

Earlswood has gone shin sore, so he has gone to the paddock.

“Unfortunately after a gallop he has pulled up shin sore, so we’ve decided to pull up stumps for this prep,” Raymond said.

“He’s a good horse and we want to look after him.

“He’ll have a break now and come back bigger and better for the spring.”

Originally published as Warrnambool mare Turaath ready for Group 1 test in Futurity Stakes at Caulfield