Racing: Waterhouse hopes it's third time lucky with NZ filly

SYDNEY - Descarado and Herculian Prince have gone to the paddock but Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse has welcomed another newcomer from New Zealand into her stable.

Waterhouse's husband Rob picked out both Herculian Prince and Descarado in New Zealand and the pair showed considerable staying talent during the autumn carnival.

Descarado finished runner-up in the AJC Australian Derby and Tulloch Stakes while Herculian Prince won four races in a row, including the listed Neville Sellwood Stakes and JRA Plate.

The trainer is now hoping 2-year-old filly Shekels can keep the ball rolling when she makes her Australian debut though the winter months.

The Volksraad filly was also found in New Zealand by Robbie Waterhouse about three months ago, but came into work at Randwick only last week.

Shekels had three starts in New Zealand for two placings and a fifth in the Wakefield Challenge (1200m).

"She's just come into training and it will be interesting to see if she can do what the boys [Descarado and Herculian Prince] have done," Waterhouse said.

"Descarado went to the paddock after running second in the Derby and Herculian Prince went to the paddock after winning the JRA Plate. They'll both come back and be prepared solely for the Melbourne spring."

Waterhouse said Shekels was likely to begin her Australian career in about eight weeks.

"She'll just work through her grades, hopefully," Waterhouse said.

"This filly actually reminds me a bit of Bianca." Waterhouse trained Bianca to win an Ipswich Cup, Wyong Gold Cup and Newcastle Cup.

She also finished second in the 2008 Metropolitan Handicap.

- AAP