Race Images Palmerston North
Quality filly Semari has put herself into Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) contention after her impressive win in the N W Kelly Plumbing Class 1 Handicap (2000m) at Racing.com Park on Thursday.
The three-year-old filly, bred and part-owned by Barlow Thoroughbreds, JML Bloodstock and Little Avondale Stud, won easily despite having to sit parked three wide for the majority of the race.
“The barrier draw didn’t help,” Little Avondale Stud principal Sam Williams said. “She has gone out and won really well, she is a pretty smart filly with a very good turn of foot.
“The partnership of JML Bloodstock, Barlow Thoroughbreds and Little Avondale have stayed in with a small share of the horse. We sold her as a yearling and they asked us back in.”
Semari went into the race a $1.40 favourite after her eye-catching last-start victory at Benalla over 1606m. She did enough on Thursday to warrant a tilt at the Australian Oaks for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
“Trent was pretty confident going into the race and he does hold the filly in pretty high regard, which is great,” Williams said.
“She’s a pretty smart animal and it’s exciting to have a filly that’s good enough to possibly be heading toward the Oaks. Her aim is either the Vinery Stud Stakes or the Adrian Knox Stakes as a lead in to the Oaks.”