Satisfactory trial from Costa Viva; Curtain falls on Taylor’s career; Kiwis top ballot order; Filly needs easing of the ground.

Satisfactory trial from Costa Viva

Group One performer Costa Viva gained a pass mark at the Rotorua trials this week.

The four-year-old has struggled to find the form that won her the 2013 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, but trainer Jason Bridgman took encouragement from her runner-up finish in a 1000 metres heat on Tuesday.

“It was the bob of the head and they went pretty hard with seven lengths back to the third horse,” he said.

“Sir Andrew was the only other Group winner in the field and, if she was going to get beaten, he was the only one we could have accepted getting beaten by.

“She seems back to herself, but I might give her another trial before we decide on her future. She’s still quite big in condition.”

Curtain falls on Taylor’s career

Group One-winning jockey Paul Taylor has announced his retirement.

He 48-year-old has been side-lined by injury for more than a year and has decided to call time on his riding career.

A natural lightweight, Taylor ends with 879 winners with his highlight the 1987 Wellington Cup-Jardine Mile double aboard Rastes and Jonny Alone at Trentham.

Kiwis top ballot order

New Zealand-breds head the current order of entry for the $A4 million Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 11.

Sacred Falls and Silent Achieverare at the head of affairs for the 2000 metre event with fellow Kiwi-bred Group One winners Criterion, Lucia Valentina, Rising Romance and Who Shot Thebarman in the top 24.

Filly needs easing of the ground

Autumn black type opportunities have been identified for Vive La Difference, who will step out in Thursday’s NZB Pearl Insurance Series 1600 at Te Aroha.

The Gr.1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks had been on her programme before trainer Jason Bridgman had to change tack.

“She needs cut in the ground and we couldn’t get the right preparation into her,” he said.

Vive La Difference has won one of her six starts and hasn’t raced since she finished fourth in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham in January.

“We might look at the Manawatu Classic and the Championship Stakes with her,” Bridgman said.