Well-related New Zealand filly, Selica, was a strong debut winner at Moe on Tuesday for Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent, landing the MBSS Security Maiden Plate (1217m) in effortless fashion.
Getting her career off to a perfect start, the daughter of Makfi remained among Cox Plate entries until the second round of acceptances, which were also taken on Tuesday, but while withdrawn for that race she remains in the entries for the Thousand Guineas (1600m) and VRC Oaks, both at Group 1 level.
“I left her in the Thousand Guineas,” Kent said. “The fillies don’t look great at the moment, I saw that race on Saturday and I didn’t think they looked great.
“She had a really big base to her. It’s a bit of a rush I guess, but you live the dream and see where she ends up.
“We’ll give her a bit of a fly in something better now and see where she goes.”
To view Selica’s win, please CLICK HERE.
The three-year-old daughter of Makfi is a half-sister to Group One performer Wyndspelle and comes from the same family as Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) winner Brutal. She overcame a chequered passage to score a convincing 1.75-length win as favourite, despite an official-price drift from $3.40 to $4.20.
Caught behind weakening $101 longshot Outrigger rounding the turn, jockey Beau Mertens was able to angle into the clear early in the straight, after which Selica accelerated impressively.
“I liked how she had to sit and wait for a run when she’s a horse that needs to be building, but she still picked herself up and found the line,” Mertens said.
“I’m sure Mick will place her right and take her through her grades, but I’m sure she’ll win a few more than that.”
