Fourth on debut at Warwick Farm behind the smart Helldeeva, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Ole Kirk filly continued her upward spiral, breaking her maiden in fine style over 1250m at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Launching out of the barriers under Tim Clark, race favourite Demerzel went straight to the lead, settling three-quarters of a length ahead of the grey Too Darn Hot filly Bolentte Bella, with the fancied Woodenbridge tracking along in third.
Controlling the race throughout, Clark started to shake up Demerzel as the home turn was reached, where the filly kicked a few lengths clear as Woodenbridge came off her back to make a challenge.
Passing the 100m mark, Demerzel was clear as the fight was on for second and third with the equal second favourites Woodenbridge and Consulate going to the line locked together.
Capturing the race by one and three quarter lengths, the Waterhouse/Bott stable have used the meeting in the past as a launching pad to spring success with Tropical Squall winning here a few years back before capturing the G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) just three starts later.
In a tight finish for the minor places, Home Affairs filly Consulate came along the inside to get the nod, just ahead of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s Woodenbridge, a Wootton Bassett half-sister to G2 winner Fiesta (I Am Invincible).
“Very professional performance,” stated Bott. “She won that at the start, the way she began so brilliantly, and it was an easy watch from there for Tim Clark who was able to take full control and, yes, she’s very professional and put them away nicely.”
“I guess encouraging thing was the last furlong, she did sort of get her mind on the job and knuckle down nicely.
“I think the improvement is really going to come when we can see her over a bit further, I think 1400 and 1600 meters as a three-year-old really going to see her be very effective.”
Riding her for the first time on race day, Clark felt there were plenty of positives to take away from the win.
“She’s got brilliant gate speed, travelled comfortably on the rail in front and, I thought she had a comfortable enough time up until about the 600 and knowing that there were quite a few first starters behind me, I just sort of asked her to pick up the tempo where she maintained a good gallop all the way through the line.”
When asked if she had the ability to take the next step up, Clark was adamant she could.
“Definitely,” said Clark. “I was quite taken by her on the other day. I always sort of felt that getting up to seven or a mile, she's going to be better suited.
“So for her to do what she did at 1100 the other day, I thought it was a really good run, and then she'd obviously improved, got out in trip a little bit. But I think her future lies when she gets over a little bit further.
“She's going to be a really nice filly.”
Purchased for $550,000 by her trainers and Bruce Slade’s Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the Evergreen Stud Farm draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Demerzel is the second winner from three runners out of Apicius, a Redoute’s Choice three-quarter-sister to the G3 winner Thewizardofoz and a half sister to Listed winner Oz Empress.
From the family of New Zealand Champion 3YO Filly, Champion Older Female & Stayer Princess Coup, Apicius foaled a full brother to Demerzel last spring.
Already the sire of 10 stakes performers headed by G1 Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer, Demerzel’s Vinery Stud based sire Ole Kirk will stand this season at a fee of $110,000 (inc. GST).
