High-class New Zealand juvenile La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) could potentially be seen at Group One level at her first assignment since crossing the Tasman to join Mark Walker’s Cranbourne stable.
The daughter of Super Seth has been bested in only one of her five starts to date, when runner-up in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) to Too Sweet at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, but subsequently went on to win the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
La Dorada stepped out in a star-studded jumpout at Caulfield on Wednesday morning and after getting back stretched her legs nicely under her own steam to finish midfield in a heat won by Group One winning sprinter Mornington Glory.
“She was lovely, she had Jamie Melham in the saddle, so she was new to her,” Assistant Trainer Ben Gleeson said.
“She obviously boasts an impressive record in New Zealand. Arguably, she was probably the best two-year-old over there last season, alongside Return To Conquer, so it’s nice to have them both here.
“She was just out there to have a quiet jumpout, she’s had a good break since winning the Sires’ Produce over there, so she had a long spell and they both got over here early in the winter and have had a long, steady build up, so good base fitness.
“Jamie was really complimentary of her, she said, ‘Gee, she’s small in stature but seems like she packs a lot of punches.’ She travelled up beautifully on the bridle, and she was running through the line nicely. That sets her up to have another one in a week and a half’s time.”
Gleeson said that while there was the option to go to the Gr.3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) on August 16 for the three-year-old fillies, there is an option to launch straight into Group One company.
“We’re pondering taking her to the Moir (Gr.1, 1000m) first-up,” Gleeson said. Three-year-old fillies get in with 50 kilos, she can win over the shorter course, she’s very versatile having won the Karaka Millions (1200m) and the Sires’ over 1400m.
“With 50 kilos she won’t know herself. Jamie will jump her out in a couple of weeks and see what she thinks of her with the head-gear on and that will give us the right guide as to whether we go there or keep to three-year-old fillies company.”
Also stepping out at the Caulfield jumpouts was $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) heroine Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) who also finished midfield.
“It was just a quiet jumpout for her too,” Gleeson said. “We’ll go a week and a half to Cranbourne for her second jumpout and then probably we’re going to kick her off in the Cockram Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) at the back end of August here at Caulfield.
“Given she’s actually not a Group winner, she doesn’t get in with a penalty.
“We won the race last year with Quintessa with 60kg and Damask Rose holds an equally impressive CV. “She’ll get in well at the weights, hopefully Blake (Shinn) sticks with her and that’ll give us confidence again.”