Racing: Filly meets tough rivals at Te Rapa

We said in this column three weeks ago Serious Satire is the best 3-year-old filly in New Zealand and will prove it with the season's championship.

Trainer Stephen Marsh doesn't disagree, but he's not counting on getting the chocolates in today's $100,000 James and Annie Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa.

Serious Satire was massively impressive winning in her two starts at the Hastings spring carnival. Each time she drove home strongly to just get up over 1200m and this time gets the advantage of an extra 200m.

"But this is the strongest field she has met," said Marsh.

"Until Xtravagant won [on Saturday] this field included the first three favourites for the 1000 and 2000 Guineas."

But Marsh knows he has Serious Satire going into this race in absolute peak condition.

"She has done brilliantly since Hastings.

"Every trainer would like a filly with her temperament -- she is absolutely gorgeous to do anything with. She has just the best nature.

"The only thing I don't like is the barrier draw [originally No12, but she will come in a couple of spots]. That can really count against her in a race this strong."

Last start Danielle Johnson managed to get Serious Satire into a good position in the one-out line. Because of the stamina index (Zabeel mother) Johnson has to niggle at the filly from the 550m, but she kept responding and got up to win in the closing strides.

It was the win of a filly desperate for 1400m and the 1600m of the Guineas.

Marsh also has Rocanto and Billy Mojo in the race. Rocanto could finish only seventh when resuming at Hastings, but Marsh warns about reading too much into that.

"He is the biggest improver in the stable.

"We've been battling blood issues with him, but everything is right in that area now.

"Billy Mojo was game winning last start and he has blinkers on this time." The field includes Hawkes Bay Guineas winner Amarula, Let Her Rip and Crutinize.