The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable is potentially entering unchartered waters with North Star Lass at Caulfield.
The Sydney-trained filly has been dispatched to Melbourne to contest the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) on Wednesday and potentially racing on a good track for the first time.
North Star Lass has raced on six occasions to date, with all six being on affected ground.
The closest she has come to racing on ‘good’ ground was when finishing a first-up third in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in August, a track rated a Soft 5.
Four of North Star Lass’ six starts have been on ‘heavy’ ground, including her victory in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last month.
“I don’t think she has had the opportunity of racing on good ground,” Waterhouse said.
North Star Lass led and fought on bravely to finish third in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 1, her most recent outing.
Waterhouse and Bott know what is required to win the Thousand Guineas having taken out the race with Global Glamour in 2016.
That filly was the last horse to win the Thousand Guineas having competed in the Flight Stakes.
Waterhouse said North Star Lass had settled in well to her Flemington base having arrived last week.
“She’s a beautiful filly, a big filly,” Waterhouse said.
“She has handled the wet very well up in Sydney and she has handled hard racing. She seems a very tenacious type of filly.
“She looks very well at Flemington since she has come down. It’s a bit quieter down here for her and she seems to like that.
“The good ones can come down here and do it. Global Glamour did it and this filly can race on the pace or off the pace.
“She’s very adaptable.”
North Star Lass sits on third line of betting for Wednesday’s race with TAB at $6 behind Boogie Dancer ($3.50) and She’s Licketysplit ($4.20).
