Devise
Trish Dunell
Devise's easy going temperament will be a major asset in her pursuit of a Group One classic that her half-sister narrowly failed to win.
The Shaune Ritchie-prepared daughter of Darci Brahma will follow in the footsteps of her cantankerous sibling Zurella, who finished runner up in the 2012 New Zealand Oaks behind her stablemate Artistic.
"We do know that Devise will stay and she's got a lovely, sweet nature," said the Cambridge trainer, who also guided the careers of Zurella and Artistic.
"Zurella was a handful to say the least, that's the kindest way I can put it. She was a real piece of work, but Devise is a lovely filly and very laid back – that's going to stand her in very good stead going forward."
Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, Devise has also shown she has inherited a good measure of the family ability.
She was sixth on debut before she beat the older horses at Hawke's Bay and at Wellington and on Boxing Day she finished fourth behind the star turn Volpe Veloce in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic.
"The other filly was too professional and on the day far too good," Ritchie said.
"Devise is still a bit green and she was making late ground so from a New Zealand Oaks perspective it was an excellent run.
"She had a week off at The Oaks Stud and we'll probably go to the Desert Gold Stakes, she's won at Trentham already.
"After that we'll be looking at the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic and perhaps the Lowland at Hastings before the Oaks. At this stage, I think she is marginally better going left-handed."
A sister (Lot 136) to Devise will be offered by The Oaks Stud on the opening day of NZB's Premier Sale at Karaka on January 30. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Shaune Ritchie-prepared daughter of Darci Brahma will follow in the footsteps of her cantankerous sibling Zurella, who finished runner up in the 2012 New Zealand Oaks behind her stablemate Artistic.
"We do know that Devise will stay and she's got a lovely, sweet nature," said the Cambridge trainer, who also guided the careers of Zurella and Artistic.
"Zurella was a handful to say the least, that's the kindest way I can put it. She was a real piece of work, but Devise is a lovely filly and very laid back – that's going to stand her in very good stead going forward."
Bred and raced by The Oaks Stud, Devise has also shown she has inherited a good measure of the family ability.
She was sixth on debut before she beat the older horses at Hawke's Bay and at Wellington and on Boxing Day she finished fourth behind the star turn Volpe Veloce in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic.
"The other filly was too professional and on the day far too good," Ritchie said.
"Devise is still a bit green and she was making late ground so from a New Zealand Oaks perspective it was an excellent run.
"She had a week off at The Oaks Stud and we'll probably go to the Desert Gold Stakes, she's won at Trentham already.
"After that we'll be looking at the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic and perhaps the Lowland at Hastings before the Oaks. At this stage, I think she is marginally better going left-handed."
A sister (Lot 136) to Devise will be offered by The Oaks Stud on the opening day of NZB's Premier Sale at Karaka on January 30. – NZ Racing Desk.
