The 3yr-old fillies get their chance to shine at Forbury Park tonight.
While 11 fillies will do battle in a Nevele R Fillies heat in a quest to get a start in a group 1 race in May, another 3yr-old filly should draw plenty of interest from punters, too.
Cullen Who, yet another promising pacer from Opoho breeders Kevin and Patricia Court, makes her debut at Forbury Park tonight in race 3.
The half-sister to Southland Oaks winner Smokin Bird is unbeaten in four trials this year, and driver Matthew Williamson says she is good enough to overcome a very awkward second-line draw.
‘‘We'll sit early and see what the speed's like as to whether we go around or not,'' he said.‘‘Either way, she'll be fine if she has to do a bit of work. That shouldn't hurt her and if she has to sit in, that won't worry her either, as she's pretty fast.
‘‘She should be really hard to beat.''
Williamson has driven the daughter of Christian Cullen in two of her four trials. The filly is a carbon copy of all Kevin Court-trained horses in terms of her behaviour.
‘‘It's just the same as usual - she's well-mannered and she has nice speed. She's a great big horse and she's good-gaited for a great big horse.''
Cullen Who could have the measure of her rivals, but an outside barrier draw poses a threat for RR Sand Dollar in the Nevele R Fillies heat.
The Paul Court-trained filly has won three of her last five starts, after looking like just a fair 3yr-old when she ran second to Judy Jetson at Forbury Park in December.
‘‘She's taken a while to come to it and she's always had a bit of a funny way of going and a hitch in her gait,'' Court said.‘‘The potential has always been there, but she's been a bit of a headache at times.''
Two second placings, to subsequent sales series winner Luisanabelle Midfrew in January and to Nek Time in a $40,000 race at Addington last month, are probably the biggest pointers to this race - particularly the Addington run.
‘‘She probably should have won the big race at Addington if she hadn't put in a half-pie rough one in a few yards short of the line. but that's the way she is,'' Court said.
The barrier draw of 8 over 1700mmakes RR Sand Dollar's task rather difficult, but Court does have a big plus with in-form driver Blair Orange in the sulky.
‘‘She loves the hot pace. Whether she's setting it or following it doesn't matter too much, so I guess he'll put her into the race at some stage.''
Court said debutante Diamond Star (race 3) has been trialling up well and was a nice wee filly, but was ‘‘just a bit weak''.
‘‘She's got a horror draw but we'll just have to deal with that and play it by ear.''
The best of Court's other three runners at the weekend is Mongolian Hero in a 2yr-old sires' stakes heat at Cambridge tonight, especially with no Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen-trained runners to contend with.
‘‘He's been racing really good in the Young Guns heats and finals. Mark hasn't got any in there, so we're probably a winning hope.''
Tips from the talent
Geoff Knight: Gene Time (Race 4, No 6)
Brad Williamson: Franco Hammond (Race
Jonny Cox Prince George (Race 1, No 6)
Amber Hoffman: Givethejobtojoyce (Race 2, No 5)
Robbie Close Kowhai King (Race 2, No 7)
