Helmet's Limestone Lowers The Boom at Flemington

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 mom Limerock was a handy filly and she was not very big herself so hopefully better things to come."

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 Limerock.

Ironically, Limerock was a regular mount of Oscietra's (and Black Caviar's) jockey Luke Nolen.

A $40,000 Easter Yearling purchase, Limerock is a half-sister to the Listed winner Warpath out of the 3-time Sydney winner Only Vanda (USA) a daughter of the excellent broodmare sire Linamix.

Limerock has a yearling filly by Al Maher and a colt foal by Zoffany (IRE). She was bred back to Sebring this season.

Helmet has one lot at the Magic Millions, four at the Inglis Classic Yearling sale and 23 at the Inglis Premier.