Weighty Caulfield test for Lara Antipova
Unbeaten Group One winner Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) will face a significant weight impost when she makes her Australian debut in Saturday’s Gr.3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
The Mark Walker-trained filly was unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile in New Zealand, culminating in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m), with that victory meaning she will carry the 59kg topweight under the Set Weights plus Penalties conditions.
Michael Dee will ride Lara Antipova from barrier eight, with Walker’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson admitting connections had considered alternatives to avoid the penalty.
“It is not ideal, we have had plenty of discussions about plotting a path that wouldn’t include that penalty,” Gleeson said.
“There are a couple of races up in Sydney, but we are not sure if we want to travel them too early in the prep when we are not sure how they will handle it.
“We have played the safer option, keeping her here in Victoria.
“There are a few strong fillies in the race, so we are going to get a good idea on how she will measure up in Australia. Her jump-outs have been really good, she has done everything she needed to please us.”
Lara Antipova won the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on her way to Group One honours, and Gleeson has been pleased with the physical development of the daughter of Russian Revolution.
“She is not an imposing filly by any means,” he said. “She is a very lean, athletic filly with a great brain on her, as the good horses do.
“Hopefully, with time, she can strengthen up and measure up here in Australia.”
Gleeson believes barrier eight should allow Lara Antipova to settle comfortably in a race expected to feature plenty of early speed.
Natural Fling (Home Affiars) heads the market at $2.80, with Lara Antipova rated a $6 chance and Riverina Lulu (Blue Point) at $8.50.
“It is probably the perfect barrier, it’s midfield so she can stay out of trouble,” Gleeson said.
“The McEvoy filly Natural Fling has drawn barrier five, she will be very quick out as she was when she won on debut. In my opinion she is the filly to beat.
“Given what we have planned for her, getting her to 1200m and then 1400m in time, we just want to see her relax and hopefully rattle home.”
Saturday’s performance will help determine whether Lara Antipova continues towards the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield or reverts to shorter distances.
“We would love to get to the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield over the 1400m,” Gleeson said.
“But we find out whether she is a Thousand Guineas filly or if she will need to drop back in trip to the sprinting ranks.”
