Three year-old Sebring filly Sheikha was entered for the Group II ATC Light
Finger Stakes this Saturday, but connections took a softer option with pleasing
results.The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly travelled smoothly on the pace for Josh Parr before kicking clear turning for home and under her big weight of 60kg was able to hold her rivals at bay and win the Benchmark 73 sprint over 1100 metres by a short neck.
"She's a quality filly so it as good to see her do that," said Adrian Bott.
"We had her in the Light Fingers, but chose to come here for an easier option.
"She's already Black Type place and we would love get a Black Type win with her so we'll assess after today and decide where to go next."
Sheikha runs in the familiar colours of Emirates Park and was bought by them for $350,000 from the Widden Stud draft at Inglis Easter.
Bred by Widden in partnership, she is a half-sister to 2YO stakes-winner Sunlight and is from Group III winner Solar Charged, whose current yearling, a filly by Zoustar, was sold by Widden at Magic Millions for $600,000 to McEvoy Mitchell Racing/David Redvers Bstock.
Solar Charged produced a colt by Sebring last spring and is now back in foal to Sunlight's sire Zoustar.
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