Kiwi pair chasing spring riches for OTI
A pair of New Zealand-bred and formerly trained gallopers are keeping Australian spring ambitions alive for OTI Racing, with promising filly De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) chasing Group One honours at Caulfield on Saturday and King Pedro (NZ) (Eminent) eyeing a potential Melbourne Cup berth.
De Armas will line up in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) following an impressive runner-up finish in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, while King Pedro has put himself back into Melbourne Cup calculations following an encouraging return at Rosehill last weekend.
The Chris Waller-trained De Armas has made an immediate impression since crossing the Tasman, producing a strong performance in the Flight Stakes at just her second Australian start.
The daughter of Ardrossan had won her first two starts in New Zealand as a juvenile, including the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes, before finishing fourth in the $1 million Karaka Millions 2YO.
Transferred to Waller for her three-year-old campaign, De Armas made her Australian debut over 1200m at Warwick Farm in late September, finishing fifth under 61kg.
Just ten days later, she stepped straight up to 1600m at Group One level and justified the ambitious placement with a fast-finishing second under Zac Lloyd, recording the second-fastest final 200m of the race.
She will now attempt to go one better in Saturday's Thousand Guineas, where she has drawn barrier seven in a field of 13 and will be ridden by William Pike.
Waller believes the filly is ready to produce her best performance third-up.
"She came through the Flight Stakes really well. Willie Pike rides and she has a slightly tricky draw but third up over a mile, she should be ready to peak," Waller said.
While De Armas is chasing an immediate Group One prize, fellow OTI representative King Pedro has revived hopes of securing a place in next month's Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The New Zealand-bred stayer made an encouraging return in last Saturday's Gr.2 Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill, closing strongly from the rear of the field to finish fourth over a distance short of his best.
The performance was particularly pleasing for trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton, with a minor setback having previously disrupted King Pedro's spring preparation and cast doubt over his Melbourne Carnival prospects.
O'Shea was delighted with King Pedro's performance, believing the gelding had gone to a new level.
"A really pleasing performance. He's gone to a new level. Weight for age and he didn't have a lot of favours, but he ran really well," O'Shea said following Saturday's race.
The Randwick trainer was equally upbeat after assessing the gelding's recovery earlier this week.
"He's pulled up really well from his excellent performance on Saturday. He's so much more effective beyond 2000m and his fitness levels are more than enough for him to be stretching out further."
King Pedro is now being considered for the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on October 24, a race that offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 3.
