Impressive two-year-old debut winner City Of Song can earn a trip to Sydney’s autumn carnival when she takes on a small field of first starters at Caulfield.
Trainer John Moloney said the trip north would be considered for the filly if she can race more tractably in Saturday’s Swettenham Stud Hcp (1000m).
City Of Song was as stunning as she was erratic when winning at her only start by just over a length at Sandown on March 2.
She lost her action a couple of times as she tried to muster speed and go out after the leaders but in the end won as she liked, underlining her class.
Moloney said she won on raw ability and is hopeful that she has taken away a lot from the race experience.
“She was very green and new at her first start but she should be improved,” Moloney said.
“She didn’t look the winner in the run but she got there and was quite impressive.
“Hopefully what she did is a sign of things to come.”
City Of Song is by Black Caviar’s sire Bel Esprit and Moloney expects she will be better suited on her home track on Saturday.
“She has also got the experience on the others which counts for a bit,” Moloney said.
“She is not a big horse but so far she has certainly shown us that she is talented.”
Jason Benbow will ride City Of Song, replacing Brenton Avdulla who made a special trip from Sydney to ride her at Sandown.
Her rivals on Saturday include the Leon Corstens-trained Mosheen who recently won a Cranbourne barrier trial and is still in the Golden Slipper Stakes on April 2, albeit at $301 with TAB Sportsbet.
A daughter of Fastnet Rock, Mosheen is out of Stravinsky mare Sumehra who was a Hawkesbury winner and city-placed.
The Lee Freedman-trained Baptism, who is by Redoute’s Choice, Nadeem filly Sharnee Rose from the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra yard, and Mick Price’s Elusive Quality filly The Fairy’s Kiss all have no exposed trial form.
The Fairy’s Kiss is the second foal from four-time Group winner Ballet Society whose first foal died.
Moloney said getting race experience was important for City Of Song and while he hadn’t formulated any specific race plans for the filly he is prepared to take her to Sydney if she can win at Caulfield.
“I am not that keen on running her in any serious big races but we might take our chances in Sydney at the back end of the carnival if she was to do really well on Saturday,” he said.
AAP TURF
