Maiden win sparks stakes tilt for promising filly
Guy Lowry is looking forward to testing his homebred filly Spark (NZ) (Time Test) at stakes level once again following her maiden victory at Tauherenikau on Sunday.
The three-year-old has always shown Guy and training partner Leah Zydenbos plenty, giving them the confidence to cross the Cook Strait to make her debut in last September’s Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton where she finished fourth behind Miss Starlight (NZ) (Sweynesse).
She was runner-up in her two subsequent starts before being freshened and was too good for her rivals in the Liquorland Masterton & Matahiwi Vineyard (1000m) on Sunday, winning by 1-1/4 lengths over Portrush (NZ) (Contributer).
“We have always rated Spark quite highly,” Lowry said. “We took her down to Canterbury without a start and to run fourth in a Canterbury Belle was great. She is just maturing into a nice filly.”
Pleased with her progression, Lowry is now keen to attain black-type with the daughter of Time Test and has circled the Gr.3 Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on ANZAC Day as her key target.
“We will give her one more start with the intention of having the Cambridge Breeders’ in our sights,” Lowry said.
Meanwhile, Lowry is looking forward to heading to Trentham on Saturday with Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto), where the mare will contest the Gr.1 Listen Live On Sportnation.co.nz NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
The Group Three performer heads into the race off the back of a fresh-up victory over 1340m at Wanganui earlier this month, and Lowry is hopeful of another bold showing this weekend.
“We are excited, she is well and that is all you can do,” he said. “She is on the way up so hopefully that holds her in good stead.”
A stakes assignment is also nearing for stablemate Sol De Otono (NZ), with the daughter of The Autumn Sun set to line-up in the Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m) at Wanganui on April 6.
The Milan Park-bred and raced five-year-old has been in a purple patch of form, winning two of her last four starts, and Lowry believes she has earned a tilt at black-type.
“She is good and she deserves a crack,” he said. “It is a big jump in class, but she is thriving at the moment so we will head that way.”
