A blueblood Pierro filly from a Group I winning Redoute’s Choice mare was an easy choice as a One to Watch on Sunday at Bendigo.
Trained by Danny O’Brien and ridden by Blake Shin, three year-old filly Pula was second on debut at Geelong last month and took good improvement from that outing to win the 1400m maiden by a length and a half.
A homebred for Robert Anderson that was foaled and raised at Widden Stud, Pula is a half-sister to Group II placed Miss Aria and is the fifth winner from five to race from Group I VRC Myer Classic winner Bonaria.
Blake Shinn has ridden Pula in both of her starts and has a good opinion of her.
“Physically she’s a lovely big girl and a lot different to her sibling Miss Aria. She has a much bigger frame and nice size and scope so I think she can get out to a mile in time,” he said.
Danny O’Brien believes she has stakes potential as her career unfolds.
“I’ve been very patient with her, but I think she has a good future,” he said.
“She’s only had two starts but is a filly we think will go to a good level and how far we push on this prep I’m not sure. I’d be disappointed if she didn’t end up stakes grade by the end of her career.”
Her dam Bonaria, was also bred and raced by Robert Anderson, and comes from a prolific Black Type family featuring Group I winenrs Merchant Navy, Joliestar and Paulele.
Her yearling colt by Zoustar was sold in the Widden draft at Magic Millions this year for $800,000 to Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds/Kia Ora Stud.
Bonaria had no foal last year and is now back in foal to Zoustar, who is the sire of her stakes horse Miss Aria.
