Sydney campaign likely for Sofia Rosa

Australian Oaks winner Sofia Rosa is close to a return to training in New Zealand after a disappointing Melbourne spring campaign.

Her trainer Stephen Marsh is looking to the mare to get back to top form and help fill the void left by the departure of NZ 2000 Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo to the Sydney stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

One of the early favourites for the Caulfield Cup, Sofia Rosa’s Melbourne campaign was aborted after three starts.

Marsh inspected the the mare last weekend and was more than happy with her condition ahead of a campaign he hopes will lead to a return to Sydney in the autumn.

“She has done tremendously well and looks amazing,” Marsh told NZRacing.co.

“I was thrilled to bits and she looks back to where she was.

“She just didn’t thrive in the spring and never lost her winter coat at all.

“She didn’t do that well as a spring three-year-old either, but really came right in the autumn and I can’t see any reason why she won’t do the same this season.

“She will probably kick off here somewhere and then most likely head to Sydney.”