Kiwi Group 1 winning filly Risque will make her Australian debut in the Group 3 $150,000 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Damian Lane will ride former Kiwi filly Risque in the Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Risque, formerly trained by Matamata trainer Stephen Autridge, is now prepared at Lindsay Park and co-trainer Tom Dabernig said that she was a welcome addition to their stable.
“She’s a nice pick-up,” Dabernig told AAP.
Risque is a winner of three of her six race starts and was transferred to Lindsay Park after winning the Group 1 NZ$300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 43rd 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton Park, NZ, on November 14 last year.
Dabernig is not sure how the filly’s New Zealand form will line up against the local form but he is hoping for a good Autumn Carnival with her immediate aim being the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5.
“You are always unsure how the kiwi form translates but she’s got quite a good record and watching her replays she goes on wet and dry ground and looks pretty versatile,” Dabeernig said.
“We’ll aim towards the Guineas but I think whatever she does in the autumn she will improve on.
“She still looks tall and angular.”
Risque has drawn barrier two in the nine horse Kevin Hayes Stakes field and will be ridden by Damian Lane.
The Kevin Hayes Stakes doesn’t look an overly strong bunch of fillies with the John O’ Shea trained Calaverite the best performed of the rest of the field with a win in the Listed $120,000 Chandler Macleod Penang Peral (1200m) at Moonee Valley in March 2015 her best result.
Ben Melham takes the ride on Calaverite who will jump from the outside gate.
Dabernig and co-trainer David Hayes have plenty of bases covered for Risque heading into the Autumn Carnival and as well as nominating her for the Australian Guineas, she is also entered in the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12.
And if the Darci Brahma filly excels in Melbourne, she could head to Sydney for ‘The Championships’ at Randwick for either the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m), the Group 1 $1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) or the Group 1 $1m Australian Oaks (2400m).
