Trish Dunell
Caricature will use a southern age group event as a possible springboard to Adelaide.
“We’ll probably send her to Christchurch for the Warstep and she would obviously have to run well to justify the trip to Australia,” trainer Tony Pike said.
The Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) for three-year-old fillies will be run at Riccarton on April 21.
“She can fly out of Christchurch the following Tuesday to Sydney and then on to Adelaide for two races,” Pike said.
Caricature could make her Australian debut in the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) on May 5 and then possibly on to the Gr.3 SA Fillies’ Classic (2500m) a fortnight later. Both races will be held at Morphettville.
Raced by the China Horse Club, Caricature has won one of her five starts and has measured up creditably against the best fillies.
She was runner-up to stablemate Treasure in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) before she was third in the Gr.3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
“She was very good in the Oaks and I thought Terra Sancta was as well,” Pike said.
Terra Sancta was making just her fourth raceday appearance when she finished eighth at Trentham.
“She’s a genuine stayer and needs a mile and a-half,” Pike said. “She went in on a short run and she was strong in the closing stages.
“She’s back in the stable after a bit of a break and we will make a decision later whether she goes to Brisbane or not.” – NZ Racing Desk.