Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams won the Group I Gavelhouse New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday with Media Sensation, but she is not the only three-year-old filly that is exciting her connections.
Stablemate Jip Jip Rock has shown plenty of
promise on the track, including a last-start victory at Te Aroha which brought
up Dawn's 1000th win as a trainer.
Owned by Barneswood Farm's Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer, Jip Jip Rock was bought from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Newhaven Park draft for $170,000.
She could meet her well-credentialed stable and ownership-mate Media Sensation in feature fillies races later this season, including the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) next year.
"She's not a big filly, she's a lot like other High Chaparral's, which can be a bit small – Dundeel wasn't a big horse," Peter Williams said.
"I do see her getting to that black-type level this summer, but I think it will be after Christmas.
"There are not many races that suit before then. She'll run at Auckland, there's a three-year-old 1500m race there, she'll probably be aimed at that and then we will go from there.
"You have got the Royal Stakes and those sort of races. If she keeps competing well, we might even have a look at the Oaks.
"She's a staying filly and we have always had that in-mind."
Jip Jip Rock is from Red Roses Too, a Not a Single Doubt half-sister to the dam of Group III winner Furnaces from the family of dual Group I winner and $1.9 million earner Melito and Champion NZ 3YO Filly Shikoba. - NZTM Update
