Kiwi Filly Out to Boost Stud Value in Lakewood
- Friday, 11 April 2003 00:00
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Pic courtesy Trish Dunell
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The filly is a Listed race winner and Group 1 placed, where she ran third to The Jewel in the Thousand Guineas. Among her other efforts include a fourth in the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes, fourth in the Group 1 Bayer Classic, ninth behind St Reims in the New Zealand Derby and fifth behind Bramble Rose in the New Zealand Oaks.
"She's shown a lot of ability right from the start and, after running fourth in the Sires Produce at just her second start, I thought she was going to be something special," Priscott said. "But she has raced in elite company all her life and since she turned three not a lot has gone right. She has run some good races though and has the talent, which is why we've come here - to add some more Black Type to her record."
Priscott is firstly aiming the filly at tomorrow's race, before a shot at the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville on May 3. A start in the Group 1 South Australian Oaks depends on her form.
"I think she is best between 1600m and 2000m, so these two races will suit her," Priscott said. "If she goes well over 2000m, then she'll stay on for the South Australian Oaks."
The filly has been kept fresh since running in the New Zealand Oaks in January, finishing fifth last start on a wet track behind Black Muscat at Tauranga. She will be ridden by Rhys McLeod and will start from barrier seven.
Meanwhile, Flemington trainer Dean Lawson is hopeful smart filly Tarcoola Diamond can return to her best form.
The daughter of Last Tycoon, with five wins and four placings from 11 starts, ran an uncharacteristic eighth last start at Moonee Valley behind Ribe in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Oaks (2040m).
It was her first go beyond 1600m and while
she finished more than five lengths from the winner,
Lawson's is unconvinced she failed to run the trip out.
"With the exception of Mahogony, the Last Tycoon's aren't generally regarded as stayers," Lawson said. "But there were plenty of excuses for her last start. She copped bump after bump from about the 600m mark when sandwiched between two horses and just dropped out over the last 100m. The jury is still out whether she'll handle the trip but she's a very honest filly and I think she's much better than her last start suggests."
The filly is already a stakeswinner of the Listed Great Western Stakes at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day last year. Her only two unplaced runs have been in Group 2 company in the Edward Manifold and the Moonee Valley Oaks last start. Two starts ago she finished third behind Lashed in the Group 2 Kewney Stakes.
"I think this race is right up her alley and, as long as she goes well, she might have a try at the Schweppes Oaks (2000m)," Lawson said. "The distance again will be a query but with these three-year-old fillies you never really know until you try them."
Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)
