Stakes winning filly Santa Catarina has arrived in Sydney ahead of a tilt at Saturday’s Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick.
The Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Savabeel was a last-start runner-up at Taupo when resuming over 1100m and boasts a Listed victory over that distance at Te Rapa in May.
Santa Catarina arrived at John Sargent's Randwick stables late on Monday after her flight from NZ.
“She’s travelled very well and ate well last night, and she seems pretty bright in herself," Marsh reported.
“If she can get the right draw and take a good position she will get her chance. She will improve again with the run, but this will tell us exactly where we are with her.”
Marsh said the three-year-old filly was likely to have a brief spring campaign in Sydney, a tactic used successfully with Sofia Rosa, who later returned in the autumn to win the G1 Australian Oaks (2400m).
“If she runs well, she will carry on to the Flight Stakes in two weeks and win, lose or draw in that she will come home,” Marsh said.
“If she doesn’t run up to expectations, we will head back home and get our spring campaign back on track in New Zealand.”
Santa Catarina is raced by prominent New Zealand owner Lib Petagna under his JML Bloodstock banner.
The Wellington owner has also enjoyed success with the Marsh-trained Sofia Rosa, while the Cambridge conditioner was the initial trainer of Lucia Valentina, who later went on to win three Group One races for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.
Marsh said last Saturday’s Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) winner Bobby Dazzler had taken a few days to recover from his brave performance.
Marsh said he had considered an Australian campaign with the three-year-old but believes it would be a bit much for him at this stage.
“I gave it serious consideration, but I think he will be a better horse in the autumn and he was a bit jaded after Saturday, so a VRC Derby campaign might be a bit arduous at this stage," he said.
“We want to get him to the New Zealand 2000 Guineas. We don’t need to go to any specific race, just as long as we get him there.”
Marsh will be at Randwick on Saturday but he will also have an eye on progressive stayer Felaar who will line up over 1600m at Ruakaka.
“Felaar is on a path to the New Zealand Cup. He is going great in his work," he said.
“Ruakaka is not going to be his ideal track, but we want to see him attacking the line at the mile. Then we can push on and get him over ground and work him towards the Cup.”
