Stephen Marshâs ATC Oaks winning Kiwi filly Sofia Rosa is targeting an all Group 1 spring campaign in Melbourne this season heading towards the Caulfield Cup 2016.
New Zealander Sofia Rosa is targeting the 2016 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne this spring. Photo: Steve Hart.
The rising four-year-old daughter of Makfi has to date won five of her 10 starts including her half-length victory in Randwickâs Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) during âThe Championshipsâ in early April.
That followed her first-past-the-post effort at home in the Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m), which she lost on protest to Fanatic before the atoning effort in Sydney in her Australian race debut.
This coming campaign will see the class New Zealand raider race exclusively in Victoria including a first-up run and maiden Melbourne start in the $500,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield Racecourse on August 27.
âSheâll trial at Ellerslie on Tuesday the 9th of August then sheâll fly to Melbourne where sheâll stay at Russel Cameronâs at Flemington and sheâll run fresh in the Memsie Stakes,â Marsh told Racing Victoria.
âWithout doubt sheâs strengthened up, sheâs still got a little bit of furnishing to do but she looks a lot better than what she did in the autumn.
âI think sheâs going to run a boomer in the Memsie over 1400m. Sheâs not dour at all and has good turn-of-foot.
âShe won her maiden first up over 1200m this time last year and she won first up last preparation at Ellerslie over 1300m.â
Four-year-olds have dominated the Memsie Stakes results over the past decade with six wins.
Recent mares to get the job done in the race meanwhile include Atlantic Jewel (2013) and Kingâs Rose (2011).
After the Memsie Sofia Rosa will back-up in the $500,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 10, the $500,000 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 2 over the AFL Grand Final weekend and then hopefully be at her peak for the $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 15.
âObviously thereâs a lot of water to go under the bridge but all going well, sheâll then go to the Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnbull Stakes and the Caulfield Cup,â Marsh said.
âSheâll have one trial and three runs going into the Caulfield Cup all going to plan.
âTheyâre all Group 1s so if we could win one it would be great but definitely the Caulfield Cup is her main target at this stage.â
The Turnbull Stakes has produced four of the past seven Caulfield Cup winners, most recently Fawkner (3rd) in 2013).
Elvstroem (2004) was the last horse to complete the Turnbull Stakes â Caulfield Cup double in the same year.
Kiwi visitor Mongolian Khan (2015) won last yearâs Caulfield Cup, while the last mare to beat home the boys in the mile and a half classic was Southern Speed (2011).
Current all-in Caulfield Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are led by last yearâs Cox Plate winning mare Winx ($15).
Sofia Rosa can be found further down the futures Caulfield Cup betting markets at $26 for the win.
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