Few off-season races have been more hyped than Saturday's New Year Plate (1000m) due to the career debut of Black Caviar's daughter Oscietra who raised hopes when she led them up early before weakening in the closing stages to finish third.
The winner Limestone looks to have a bright future.
As the fields broke up into two divisions, Limestone tracked Oscietra down the centre of the track. When the favourite began to feel the pinch, Damian Lane set Limestone to an all-out drive. She quickly gathered in Oscietra the easily held the challenge of the fast-finishing Miss Wahoo (Master Of Design) by one and a half lengths with Oscietra (Exceed And Excel) one and a quarter length back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer).
Trained by Darren Weir, Limestone had clearly benefitted by her first-up third at Moonee Valley won by the promising Fastnet Rock filly Catchy on December 9.
"She settled beautifully behind the favourite and when I asked her she really quickened nicely and she had obviously taken benefit from that first-up run," Lane said.
"Her
The grey daughter of Helmet is a homebred for David Moodie's Hesket Bloodstock.
She is a half-sister to the talented 3yo filly Gimlet (Dream Ahead) out of the 5-time winning Charge Forward mare
Ironically,
A $40,000 Easter Yearling purchase,
