It has been six years since Caulfield trainer Stuart Webb brought Yosei to Sydney for her lead-up to the Thousand Guineas.
Yosei had already been to Randwick as a two-year-old to win the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes and, while she was unplaced when she returned for the Flight Stakes, she claimed her second elite level shortly after in the Thousand Guineas.
While he is unsure Plenty To Like is up to that class, Webb is keen to test her in the Group Two Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Plenty To Like’s owners will get the chance to see her race in their home city in the Tea Rose after a bad barrier draw for a race at Caulfield convinced Webb to aim higher with the filly.
“I think she’s well above average,” Webb said.
Plenty To Like came to Webb after being trained by Murray Johnson for four starts which included two unplaced efforts in Listed grade as a two-year-old.
She jumps sharply in grade after winning her maiden at Benalla on September 5, but Webb believes she has improved in her three-year-old preparation.
The filly is entered for the Thousand Guineas and the Tea Rose will be a guide whether to keep aiming that high.
“If she’s not up to that grade she’s probably better off going to the water walker for a month and then coming back and racing through summer,” Webb said.
Trainer Chris Waller has a strong hand in the Tea Rose with $2.80 favourite Foxplay as well as Sezanne and Awoke, both at $9.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Global Gamour is on the second line of betting at $4.80, Bacarella is at $6.50 and Skylight Glow is an $8.50 chance.
Skylight Glow’s trainer James Cummings was encouraged by her third in the Group Three Ming Dynasty Quality on September 3.
“She ran very well first-up and now that she’s got that run under her belt over 1400 metres it stands her in good stead second-up,” Cummings said.
“I think the blinkers might just help her go to the next level as well.”
Skylight Glow is being aimed at the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 1.
Last year’s Flight Stakes winner Speak Fondly is also by Northern Meteor giving Cummings confidence Skylight Glow will get the distance.
“She’s got very good record at 1400 so far,” he said.
“Twelve months ago a Northern Meteor filly won the Flight Stakes so she’s bred to run it.”
