Scarlett Lady Sets Sights on Sydney

Outstanding Savabeel mare Scarlett Lady (NZ) has booked her ticket to take on Sydney's best after a hard-fought victory at Ellerslie on Saturday in the $200,000 Group 1 Lindauer New Zealand Stakes (2000m).

Saturday's race was built as a match race with Scarlett Lady (Savabeel x On Call) set to clash with the outstanding galloper Veyron (Thorn Park) who had won two Group 1 races coming into the event including the Waikato Draught Sprint against the in-form Karaka graduate Mufhasa (Pentire).

The Group 1 race lived up to its billing as jockey James McDonald and Scarlett Lady stalked Veyron as the field entered the Ellerslie straight. It was a two-horse race from there as the Group 1 winners were stride for stride for much of the straight, before Scarlett Lady put her nose in front just metres before the line.

Trained by Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Scarlett Lady was making her Group 1 comeback after being injured in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes in Melbourne in the spring, and was operated on to remove a fragment of bone from her front fetlock.

The four-year-old made a solid return to racing when winning the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) early last month and on Saturday looked every bit the talented filly that won six consecutive races including the Group 3 Doomben Roses/Group 1 Queensland Oaks Double last season.

Owner Max Whitby, who also races Silk Pins who ran third in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes, confirmed after the race that the mare will be travelling across the Tasman where she will take on some of the best Australia has to offer in the Sydney Carnival.

"The BMW is the ultimate target and we will most likely line her up in the Group 1 Ranvert Stakes before that," said Whitby.

The BMW is shaping up as one of the races of the season with Saturday's Group 1 Australian Cup winner Manighar (Linamix), Melbourne Cup winner Americain (Dynaformer), Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed (Southern Image), AJC Derby winner Shoot Out (High Chaparral) and Saturday's Group 2 Blamey Stakes winner Green Moon (Montjeu) all nominated for the race.

In a line to her form, Scarlett Lady led home a New Zealand bred trifecta in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks last season beating Shez Sinsational (Ekraar) who has won the Group 1 International Stakes and Group 1 Auckland Cup this season.

Scarlett Lady was bred by Steve Luey & Waikato Stud and was purchased by Whitby Bloodstock from Waikato Stud at the 2009 Premier Sale for $25,000. Her impressive record now reads 14 starts, eight wins - two at Group 1 level - two placings and over $750,000 in stakes.

Running third in the Group 1 was the Terri Rae trained seven-year-old gelding Hold it Harvey (King Cugat x Daly Charm) who claimed his seventh stakes placing this season. With placings in the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate, Group 1 NZB Insurance Spring Classic, Group 1 International Stakes and Saturday's Group 1 New Zealand Stakes, Hold it Harvey has been one of the most consistent gallopers to take to the track this season.

Hold it Harvey was offered by Sir James Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2006 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds, and he has now won 14 of his 62 starts for over $720,000.