Filly Sequista may have tripped herself up before, but Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou remain convinced of her black-type winning prowess.

Stakes-placed in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and close to the frame in Tempted’s Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old seeks to bolster her resume in Saturday’s Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) over Scone.

“She has (been unlucky) but in saying that a lot of it has been self-inflicted,” Alexiou said.

“She can get a high head carriage, and she likes a nice, flowing gallop, so a position three-wide will be a good thing for her if she can get in a nice spot and the track is playing that way.”

Her trainer shows little alarm over the gate 18 draw, which stands to become 15 barring emergencies getting in.

The position does nothing to sway their determination for the Scone launch, targeted throughout the preparation.

“At this stage she will take her place. We’ve had the intent all preparation to run here first-up,” Alexiou said.

“She had a very solid trial the other day to make sure she was up to the mark, and there is only the one turn at Scone so hopefully the bad barrier isn’t the be-all, end-all.

“If things go the right way, she can run really well in a race like this.”

Tyler Schiller takes the steer on Sequista, priced at $12 Friday.

Alexiou foresees a rewarding campaign for her post-Saturday, via Sydney staying low-rated or black-type hunts in Queensland.

“The prizemoney in Sydney is still very good and she is still way down in the benchmarks, she is only a 73 rater,” Alexiou said.

“But that’s our ambition, to get black-type with her, and we believe on her day she’s got that type of ability.

“It’s a good place to kick her off at Scone, and I’m sure she’s in for a good preparation whatever eventuates on Saturday.”

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