The Ben Foote-trained Sakura Girl will take on older mares as the classy filly prepares for a Queensland raid.
The Cambridge horseman entered Sakura Girl in two races at Te Rapa this Saturday, but has elected to contest the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at weight-for-age rather than stick to the filly’s own age group in a three-year-old 1600m event.
Foote is hoping Sakura Girl can become the fourth New Zealand-trained three-year-old filly to take out a Group One contest in Australia this year, following in the footsteps of Legarto, Prowess, and Pennyweka, with the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on June 3 her aim.
He said the strong form of the New Zealand three-year-old crop in Australia, plus the fact that Prowess and Sharp ‘N’ Smart have both beaten older horses at weight-for-age in New Zealand, helped convince him the Travis was the right path this weekend.
“I entered her in both partly because I wasn’t sure exactly how her fitness would be, but she recovered very quickly after her trial on Monday so I think she’s forward enough,” Foote said.