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By Ray Hickson

Not everything went to plan for Tigroni in her first outing but a month off the scene has done wonders for the John O’Shea & Tom Charlton youngster.

Trainer Tom Charlton (Pic: Bradley Photos).

That’s the view of co-trainer Tom Charlton who says the filly’s immediate future will be decided based on how she performs in the Spelling At Coolmore Mt White Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Tigroni endured a wide run and loomed up to hit the front on debut at Rosehill before the effort told and she was reeled in by Fireball.

“She was excellent on debut and arguably a bit unlucky with the run in transit she had,’’ Charlton said.

“We elected to give her a week in the paddock which she did really well in. This has always been the race we had in mind after that first run.”

Like a lot of lightly raced youngsters, the aim for Tigroni is next month’s Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.

Her career had a false start when her planned first race was deleted and that forced the stable to change course and ultimately saw her step out at Rosehill on November 29.

Charlton hopes Tigroni can get a smoother run in transit, despite still drawing a shade awkwardly, and have the chance to let down on her own terms.

“She did enough on debut to give her the opportunity to get to that race and Saturday will be another test for her,’’ he said.

“There’s going to be no easy route into that race and if she’s going to be good enough she’ll have to be running well.

“The likely map and machinations remain to be seen. She’s a versatile filly and at the 1100m at Randwick isn’t the worst set up.”

Zac Lloyd rode Tigroni, $4.20 with TAB on Friday, first-up and will partner the filly again.

O’Shea and Charlton made the call to scratch Bartolf from a race last Saturday to wait for the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1400m) and they hope it’s proven to be the right move given the form around his clashes with Tuned of late has been enhanced.

The four-year-old was set to start one of the favourites in that race, won by Step Aside, a week ago.

“It’s easy with the benefit of hindsight but perhaps maybe last week was better but we dealt with the information in front of us,’’ Charlton said.

“He hasn’t drawn much better this week but it is what it is.

“The horse is very well, we’ve been looking forward to giving him another go at 1400m.

“The form out of his last race is excellent and he’s knocking on the door to win one of these races.”

Charlton said stablemate Interjection, drawn alongside Bartolf, will appreciate a 4kg drop on his second-up placing behind Frontex.

“He ran very well last time, he has the tricky gate again, and he’s ready to run well with a bit of luck in running,’’ he said.

A gear change and a drop in distance give Hurstville Zagreb the chance to bounce back to form in the Schweppes Handicap (1600m) after disappointing the stable in recent starts.

The gelding was dynamic winning second-up at the mile but hasn’t been as effective in his past two starts over the 2000m.

“He just hasn’t shown that same zest, particularly last start where he had control,’’ Charlton said.

“Our feeling is back to the mile might be suitable. We just freshened him up a little and he gets the winkers as well.

Tigroni runs second at Rosehill on November 29

“Our faith remains in him but it’s important for him to get back to the form when he won at Warwick Farm.”

Tom Charlton on Livin’ Thing (race 8): “He’s going really well, it’s a good map for him. He was a little bit unlucky first-up, this is a stronger race but he’s well placed to run well.”

On Inquiring Minds (race 9): “On a decent surface he ran really well last start. He’s knocking on the door, he’s a pretty consistent performer when he has things to suit.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick