Stakes-placed Houston Benefactor will use a midweek maiden at Canterbury as a stepping stone towards the lucrative Princess Series during the Sydney spring carnival.
The three-year-old returns from a spell in Wednesday’s TJ’s Champagne Bar Maiden Plate (1100m) and trainer Anthony Cummings is confident the filly can kick off her campaign on the right note before stepping up to stronger company.
“She trialled well last week and looks to have come back in good order,” Cummings said.
“Her work is up to the right standard, she looks pretty well placed in a maiden such as she’s in tomorrow and if we get what we expect out of that she’ll go on to the Princess Series.”
The Princess Series for three-year-old fillies comprises four races starting with the Group Three Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on August 20.
The Group Two Furious Stakes (1400), Group Two Tea Rose Stakes (1500m) and Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) complete the series.
Houston Benefactor raced five times as a two-year-old and was unlucky not to get a win on the board at Canterbury on March 9 when she blew the start by several lengths but still flashed home to be only narrowly denied in a photo-finish by Exceed And Exalt.
Houston Benefactor was sent back to the barrier trials and, after passing her barrier test, returned to the races and finished third in the Listed Keith Mackay (1200m) at Randwick.
A fifth placing in the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) brought Houston Benefactor’s autumn preparation to a close.
“She was pretty unlucky not to have broken her maiden status a couple of times last preparation and she’s already stakes-placed, so plainly she’s got the talent to at least handle a maiden,” Cummings said.
Glyn Schofield partnered the daughter of Encosta De Lago in a pleasing barrier trial hitout at Randwick last Friday and has the ride at Canterbury.
Schofield returns to the saddle on Wednesday after serving an eight-meeting careless riding suspension.
Among Houston Benefactor’s rivals at Canterbury will be the Gerald Ryan-trained Fast Shanti who is set to make her debut.
Fast Shanti is a full-sister to Group winner Rothesay.
The Fastnet Rock filly was due to make her debut at Hawkesbury late last month but was balloted out of the race Ryan had earmarked for her.
AAP TURF
