When Gerald Ryan bought a filly by Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento at the yearling sales, he wasn’t anticipating she would be precocious enough to race as a pre-Christmas two-year-old.
However, Sequista has proven to be a pleasant surprise, and in hindsight, Ryan feels there may be a pointer in her pedigree after all.
“She’s by D’Argento, but when you look at her dam line she is out of an I Am Invincible mare whose dam is out of a Jade Robbery mare whose dam is out of a Vain mare.
“It’s all speed, which is possibly where she gets her speed from.”
A $100,000 Classic Sale purchase, Sequista’s only barrier trial appearance was in a 900m heat at Canterbury where she led and was touched out in the final stages by Memo.
The latter finished a slashing second at Wyong on Wednesday, her eye-catching effort earning her favouritism for next month’s Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast.
While it is only trial form, Ryan says his charge has enjoyed a good grounding at home and has been working well in the lead-up to Saturday’s $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Randwick.
“She has been very straightforward, very sensible. She had a couple of little jump-outs last time in and two jump-outs before she trialled this time in,” Ryan said.
“She has made good improvement from her trial too. She’s a nice filly.”
Tyler Schiller has done the bulk of the work with Sequista and has been happy to stick with her as he chases back-to-back wins in the sales-restricted race, which he captured aboard Odinson last year.
Ryan and training partner Sterling Alexiou have also accepted with Deep Field filly Cosmic Eagle, although after drawing wide she may be saved for Warwick Farm next week.
Only five of the 15 Inglis Nursery runners have race experience, including Within The Law, who is a dominant $2.80 favourite after scoring impressively on debut at Flemington in November with Sequista kept safe as a $12 chance.
