New Zealand’s La Dorada will take her first steps in Australia when she lines up in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley, aiming to join She Will Reign and Coolangatta as three-year-old fillies to win the race.
The daughter of Super Seth has already stamped herself as a top-class filly, with three wins from four starts including the Karaka Millions and Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes. Though all her runs to date have been at 1100m and further, co-trainer Mark Walker’s assistant Ben Gleeson is confident she has the speed for 1000m fresh.
“She is arguably the best two-year-old in New Zealand,” Gleeson said. “We could have run her in the Atlantic Jewel, but she would have had 59-½ kilos… so we thought we would have a crack at the Group 1.”
La Dorada has had two jump outs at Cranbourne to ready her for the task, with trusted track rider Laura Winks – who also worked with Imperatriz – offering glowing reports. Her campaign could include the Manikato Stakes or Scarborough Stakes, before a possible tilt at the Thousand Guineas.
Luke Cartwright takes the reins in the Moir, with Gleeson backing the apprentice to deliver. “If you remove the apprenticeship tag next to his name, he is arguably one of the most promising young jockeys in Australia.”