The Kembla meeting on Tuesday produced a couple of very interesting, lightly raced Kiwi bred fillies that both won nicely and are both entered for the Group I ATC Australian Oaks on April 9.
Mark Newnham has a good opinion of Tavistock filly Sanstoc, who did a few things wrong when finishing third on debut in town earlier this month, but made no mistakes in the 1500m maiden today at her second start.
She raced just behind the leaders for Tom Sherry and was very strong to the line to beat an older gelding with good form in Stormy Legend by half a head.
Sanstoc was a $140,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Vinery Stud from the Carlaw Park draft and comes with a gold-plated Oaks pedigree as she is a full sister to Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Tavago and also Group III placed filly Sweet Ana.
Sanstoc is the seventh winner from unraced Stravinsky (USA) mare Sara Ann, a full sister to Group II winner La Sizeranne from the family of countless Group I winners including the great champions Lonhro and Lankan Rupee.
Woburn Farm will offer the latest yearling from Sara Ann at Karaka Book 1 this year as Lot 554 and he is a cracking colt by The Autumn Sun.
Also making a good impression was the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Savabeel filly Summerbeel, who made it two wins from four starts when taking out the Class 1 event over 1500m by a length and a half.
She bolted in with a Goulburn maiden last start over 1400m and has obviously started to hit her straps with a step up in trip.
A $310,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Gai Waterhouse / Adrian Bott / GPI Racing from the Waikato Stud draft, Summerbeel comes with a big European pedigree being the second winner from Summer School (IRE).
Summerbeel is a half-sister to talented import Promise of Success, who was second in the Group III ATC Triscay Stakes earlier this month and promises to win a stakes race sooner rather than later.
Summer School comes from the revered family of Arc winner and blue hen Urban Sea, whose sons include champion sires Galileo and Sea the Stars, so Summerbeel has a pedigree that literally screams Oaks filly.
Waikato Stud will offer a full sister to Summerbeel at Karaka Book 1 as Lot 624 and she is sure to be in hot demand.
