The Mark Newnham-trained Seven Veils dented a few reputations when leading at every call in Saturday’s Group II Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes (1200m) and booking her ticket for the Golden Slipper.
Kerrin McEvoy allowed the daughter of Shalaa (IRE) to breeze along at leisurely fractions on the heavy track. At the 300m she had the field off the bit. It was left to the Snitzel filly Dashing Legend to mount any sought of challenge closing to a length and three-quarters. Godolphin’s Exceed And Excel filly Ojai was a further back in third The Magic Millions runner-up Russian Conquest (Russian Revolution) looked uncomfortable in the ground finishing fourth as did the high priced Greece (I Am Invincible) who weakened to finish last.
A homebred for Dr Paul Hughes and Dr Chris Rogers, Seven Veils was coming off a debut second behind Conqueror on the Kensington track at Randwick on February 16.
“She has always had above-average ability. She had a couple of early trials and pulled up shin sore after her second one, but she has come back in really good shape,” Newnham said.
“She made a few mistakes on debut and it just cost her the win. It was our plan to come here if she had won that midweek maiden and I was buoyed by the fact the form out of the race has been quite strong and she has shown good natural improvement from her first-up run.
“Kerrin took control of the race. All I’d said to him was don’t hunt her forward, don’t drag her back, just let her be comfortable. She looked comfortable in front, and she was really strong to the line.
“She has ticked that (heavy track) box. Sydney autumns, they can remain pretty wet at times but look, she is a nice filly.
“Paul Hughes and Chris Rogers who own and bred her, I’m thankful to them because we’ve had a couple of previous ones out of the mare that haven’t quite reached this level, so I’m pleased they’ve stuck with me and we’ve got a nice filly.
Seven Veils is the best of three winners from as many to race from the talented Redoute’s Choice mare Mesmereyeser who sadly died in January.
From the family of Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Copperama and Group III Sweet Embrace winner Postage Due, Mesmereyeser has a yearling colt by Kermadec and a weanling full-sister to Seven Veils.
Seven Veils becomes the fifth stakes winner and third in Australia for dual Group 1 winner Shalaa (IRE) who is now a permanent resident at Arrowfield Stud.
