The winners of Australia’s most prestigious fillies Classics will meet each other for the first time in the Tramway Stakes at Randwick.
VRC Oaks winner Kirramosa and Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance did all their early racing in New Zealand but never crossed paths as young horses.
The two mares are among 19 entries for Saturday’s Group Two Tramway (1400m) as both head to the Caulfield Cup.
Injury forced Kirramosa out of the autumn but trainer John Sargent was pleased with her first-up sixth in last month’s Missile Stakes in which she finished less than two lengths from the winner Sweet Idea.
Sargent, now domiciled in Sydney, withdrew the mare from Rosehill on Saturday because of the heavy track.
“We always had the Tramway as a back-up,” Sargent said.
“Her program now will be the George Main Stakes after Saturday and then she will go to Melbourne for the Turnbull on the way to the Caulfield Cup.
“She has had no problems in her preparation and as long as it’s not too wet again on Saturday, I’m happy.”
The Donna Logan-trained Rising Romance arrived in Sydney last week and finished midfield in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday.
Her jockey James McDonald said she was not comfortable on the all-weather Pro Ride surface but should benefit from the outing.
She will follow a similar path to the Caulfield Cup as Kirramosa.
Former New Zealander Lucia Valentina, winner of the Vinery Stud Stakes on a heavy track in April before her third to Rising Romance in the Oaks, is also among the Tramway entries which are headed by in-form wet track sprinter Tiger Tees.
He has a 112 rating after toppling a field of weight-for-age performers the Warwick Stakes.
Rebel Dane, who missed the Group One Memsie Stakes because of a stone bruise, will gallop at Warwick Farm on Tuesday to test his fitness.
