In-form filly Kimberley Star is rock solid in condition and has a fitness advantage over he rivals in the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Kimberley Star has a fitness edge on her rivals in the Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.Photo by Steve Hart.
Kimberley Star has won at her last three outings and will take on five other fillies as she steps up to Stakes company for the first time after completing a hat trick of wins with victory in the $85,000 Structaflor Yellowtongue Plate (1400m) for the three year olds at Rosehill on August 1.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse is hoping that Kimberley Star can do what the in-form Chris Waller trained Japonisme did to the field in the Group 3 $125,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill last Saturday and upstage the better performed three year olds.
Japonisme had worked his way up through the ranks and made it four wins on the trot, leaving is his wake the short priced Waterhouse trained Golden Slipper winner Vancouver who struggled into fourth place.
“She could easily do what Japonisme did last week,” Waterhouse told AAP.
“We didn’t think we’d be beaten with Vancouver and we were, so she could easily do it.”
Waterhouse will also saddle up Speak Fondly who will be having her first run back since running eleventh to Vancouver in the Golden Slipper Stakes.
Speak Fondly has barrier trialled twice at Randwick in preparation for her return with a win over 735m on July 20 followed by a second to Group 1 winner Temple Of Boom over 840m on July 31 and will wear the blinkers for the first time in the Silver Shadow Stakes.
Waterhouse is happy with the progress of each fillies and expects bold showings from both.
”I’m happy with both fillies. Both fillies are different, one is very fresh and forward and one is very seasoned,” Waterhouse said.
The Team Hawkes trained Lake Geneva at $3.20 holds a slight advantage over Kimberley Star who is the second pick at $3.60 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Lake Geneva was among the top two year olds during the Autumn Carnival and was placed twice at Group 1 level with third placings in both the $1m Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield an in the Golden Slipper.
The Fastnet Rock filly was taken to Hawkesbury to kick off her Spring Carnival campaign and she formerly saluted at $1.05 in the $22,000 Sigma 3yo Maiden Plate (1000m) on August 6.
Silver Shadow Stakes market order with Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Lake Geneva, $3.60 Kimberley Star, $4.60 Speak Fondly, $6 Kangarilla Joy, $7 Fireworks, $10 Italy.
