Aruna Starts Campaign in Jenny Wiley

When she was last seen at Keeneland, Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.’s Aruna had successfully passed her initial test on Polytrack in winning the 2011 Juddmonte Spinster (G1).

The 5-year-old Graham Motion-trained mare is scheduled to make her 2012 debut Saturday in the 24th running of the $300,000 Jenny Wiley (G1) at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

“She arrived here from Fair Hill (Md.) on Wednesday,” Motion said. “We planned to start the year and having the race a Grade 1 didn’t hurt.”

Following her Juddmonte Spinster victory, Aruna returned to the turf, finishing fifth, beaten only a length, in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs.

“We plan to run her five times this year and hope to wind up at the Breeders’ Cup,” Motion said. “She stayed at Fair Hill all winter. It was so mild, she didn’t need to go to Florida and she didn’t miss any time at all. She has matured and filled out well.”

Aruna has compiled a 7-4-2-0 record on the grass in the United States since coming here midway through 2010 from Europe. Motion said Aruna could return to the Polytrack in the fall and defend her Juddmonte Spinster title, something that has been done only three times in the race that began in 1956.

“It is possible,” Motion said of using the race as a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup that will be held at Santa Anita this year. “We know she handles this surface well.”