Winning a Group 1 after just two starts is a monumental feat, but there's a filly in Saturday's Schweppes One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield who is ready to take on the challenge.
The untapped Ace High filly Stage 'N' Screen made a winning debut at Seymour on October 13 before having little luck when caught wide the trip when fourth in the Listed The Amanda Elliot at Flemington on November 5.
Trained by Mark Walker, Te Akau's David Ellis purchased Stage' N' Screen for $200,000 out of Kiltannon Stables draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sales.
She is a half-sister to Japanese Emperor Satono Aladdin (JPN), who won at Sandown on debut and placed third behind Legarto and Attrition in the Group 1 Australian Guineas and was third in the Group II Alister Clark Stakes won by Bank Maur.
Stage 'N' Screen is the third winner from as many to race for the unraced O'Reilly mare Inthespotlight, who is a sister to Up In Lights, the dam of Newgate Farm's popular North Pacific (Brazen Beau), who won the Group III Up And Coming Stakes and was runner-up to Ole Kirk in the Group 1 Golden Rose.
Inthespotlight is also a three-quarter sister to the dams of the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year in 2020-21, Amarelinha (Savabeel) and the Group III winner Missybeel (Savabeel).
The Group 1 New Zealand Oaks highlighted Amarelinha's five wins, while Missybeel claimed the Group III Epona Stakes and Group III Aspiration Quality Handicap.
Inthespotlight is a half-sister to the stakes-placed winners Spin Doctor (Pins) and Poniard (Reliable Man).
Spin Doctor placed in the Group 1 Waikato Sprint and was a grand money spinner with 13 wins and 14 places from 48 starts.
Stage 'N' Screen's granddam Love The Limelight (Octagonal) is a half-sister to the ATC Randwick Guineas, ATC George Ryder Stakes, and BRC Doomben Cup hero Metal Bender (Danasinga) and a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Zabeel mare Southern Venture, who is the granddam of the Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes winner Sweet Ride (Deep Field).
There is plenty more to come from this family.
Chris Waller / Mulcaster Bloodstock shelled out $900,000 for Inthespotlight's Satono Aladdin filly consigned by Rich Hill Stud to the 2024 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale.
Kaha Nui Farm has catalogued Inthespotlight's Satono Aladdin colt to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Stage 'N' Screen will strive to become the second One Thousand Guineas winner for Rich Hill Stud's Classic-winning High Chaparral stallion Ace High, after Molly Bloom, who triumphed in the 2023 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
