The Cox Plate beckons for outstanding filly Samantha Miss but for now trainer Kris Lees is happy to savour the Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick.
The Cox Plate beckons for outstanding filly Samantha Miss but for now trainer Kris Lees is happy to savour the
history-making victory in the Group One Flight Stakes at Randwick.
Samantha Miss and Angst (1993) are the
only two horses to win all four legs of the Princess Series - the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), Furious Stakes (1400m),
Tea Rose Stakes (1500m) and the 1600-metre feature.
"The Cox Plate is still in our plans but I'd rather not take
the gloss off what she has achieved here," Lees said.
"We'll start thinking about the Cox Plate next
week.
"She's an absolute champion in her own right and deserves her place in history."
Ridden by Hugh
Bowman, Samantha Miss was taken out the back early where she stayed on the fence until near the 800 metres before
being taken three wide and presented for a barnstorming finish.
The
Gai Waterhouse-trained Maybe I led at the
400 metres but it was soon evident that Samantha Miss had the race in her keeping and she quickly put paid to her
rivals, going on to score by 2-1/2 lengths over Portillo with Kimillsy three-quarters of a length away third.
"I was a
little concerned when Hughie got her over on the fence after a furlong (200m) but he popped her out and she relaxed
beautifully and she stayed right out of trouble," Lees said.
"She's got that great turn of foot and when they
straightened she was always going to be hard to hold out."
Bowman was delighted with the performance but
warned Australia's weight-for-age championship, the Cox Plate (2040), would be a massive test for the filly.
"She
proved that she's a champion today," Bowman said.
"Physically she's ready for the Cox Plate but mentally you
just don't know until you have a crack at it.
"It's a huge step for her but she is very special and these special
ones are capable of anything."
Darley Australia's Trevor Lobb said Portillo would head to Melbourne for
Wednesday week's Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
"That's always been the plan and there's
no need to change it," Lobb said.
Trainer Kim Waugh said Kimillsy would also target the Thousand
Guineas.
The Cox Plate is at Moonee Valley on October 25.
