Kosciuszko Aim for Artie's Aura

Trainer Kody Nester hopes his 4YO mare Artie's Aura (Artie Schiller-Ziya, by Lion Cavern) will prove her readiness for the Kosciuszko in today's Scone meeting, reports racingnsw.com.au. "I thought after she won her maiden she was the right type of filly and when she came back this time in I galloped her myself one morning and I was getting more confident about it," Nester said. "I thought her run had plenty of merit in it the other day even though it's a Class 1. Empowerment came out and won again which is a good sign. In our area it's a touch weaker than other areas so she could end up (in the Country Championships)." A winner on debut over 1200m, Artie's Aura ran fourth in her next start, then second at her most recent outing. "She was first up, 1200m, got caught three deep no cover and still had the hide to finish off," he said. "It had to take away from her finish doing the work she did. She takes a few days to get over her runs but she's taken good natural improvement out of it. She probably went into that race about 80-85 per cent right whereas she's 100 per cent fit now. I think the (2.5kg) weight drop helps a lot too as she's not a big mare." Artie's Aura is a half-sister to stakes placed winner Hello Fuji (Dansili) and her unraced dam is a half-sister to group winner Zayyani (Darshaan). She is closely related to South Africa's Horse of the Year Igugu (Galileo-Zarinia, by Intikhab).