Menuisier retains full faith in Tamfana

Glasgow Times

2 days ago

A Group One winner last term in the Sun Chariot Stakes, Tamfana began the new season with a respectable second behind Roger Teal's Dancing Gemini at Sandown, but struggled to land a blow in the Lockinge Stakes with both the quick going and a less than perfect passage through the race counting against her at Newbury.
Menuisier said: 'She's fine and has come out of the Lockinge well. Obviously the ground at Newbury was a touch quick and when she came to make her challenge the door was shut on her, then it was just a matter of coming home at her own pace after that.
'You saw in the Sandown Mile on good to soft ground she had the Lockinge winner covered and although Dancing Gemini may have been ahead of us, we had to carry a penalty.
'We learned plenty at Newbury, which was part of the reason why I went for the Lockinge. Sometimes you learn a lot more in defeat than in victory and I'm learning a lot at the moment.'
Menuisier is 'open-minded' as to where to head next with the four-year-old, who has raced over a mile in her last five outings but has a multitude of entries for races over further.
The Sussex-based Frenchman admitted his search for some cushion underfoot could see the daughter of Soldier Hollow miss Royal Ascot, but the Curragh's 10-furlong Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the end of the month (June 28) could represent a suitable alternative.
Menuisier added: 'I'm open-minded what I do next in terms of race and trip and I think it will all depend on the weather.
'On good to soft ground I think she is amongst the very best, but on quicker ground she is not, so it will just be a case of playing it by ear.
'She could go to France and she could go anywhere. It is not a question of level, it is just finding her preferred conditions.
'She would need rain to go to Royal Ascot and if we don't go there we could go to the Pretty Polly the following week, so there are plenty of races and no stress and all options are open.'
Also waiting for the rain to arrive is the well-regarded Janey Mackers, who was seen as a Classic contender earlier in the year, but after an underwhelming effort at Newmarket could next be seen competing in the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies' Stakes at Goodwood on Sunday.
'We need to go grade by grade with her and she is suffering a bit from the dry weather at the moment,' continued Menuisier.
'Newmarket was definitely too quick and I won't run her on that ground again. I'll take my time and the next option is Goodwood, weather depending.'