Trekking’s half-sister makes winning debut

Well-related filly Plymstock has put herself in the frame for the better two-year-old races with a determined performance at Randwick.

The race that launched the career of 2020 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside may have unearthed another smart juvenile with Godolphin filly Plymstock scoring an impressive victory on debut at Randwick.

Trainer James Cummings indicated the youngster would be given every opportunity to race her way into the two-year-old features after taking out Saturday’s Heineken 3 Handicap (1000m) at her first start.

Stay Inside made a winning debut in the corresponding event 12 months ago before going on to take out the Slipper three starts later, a statistic not lost on Plymstock’s jockey Tim Clark.

“This is the race Stay Inside won last year and (2018 Slipper winner) Estijaab a few years before that, so it has obviously produced some good two-year-olds and she couldn’t have been more impressive there,” Clark said.

“It was a good start to her career.

“She settled back off them, travelled well throughout. She had a bit of work to do once we straightened up, but she quickened up nicely and went through her gears well, especially when the horse on my outside (Emperor) came to her.”

Plymstock ($11) finished hard to reel in leader Deep Expectation ($7.50) and score by a length with Emperor ($4.60) another short neck away.

Wild Calm started a $3.80 favourite and flashed home late from last to finish fifth.

The winner is by freshman sire Ribchester and is a half-sister to Godolphin’s two-time Group One victor Trekking, who finished unplaced in the 2017 Golden Slipper.

Cummings hasn’t ruled out setting Plymstock on a Slipper path if she continues to improve.

“She is nominated for the good races and we will give that consideration, so long as she keeps thriving and heading the right way, then we will raise the bar,” Cummings said.

“I can see her running in a good race, that’s for sure.

“Her half-brother ran in the Golden Slipper, it all got a bit much for him on that occasion but he’s a multiple Group One winner now and she’s a valuable filly for us and for the farm, so we will tread carefully.

“But it will be really interesting to see what she is able to do if we put a little bit more pressure on her.”