Showy Zoe was given a quiet trial on February 16 when finishing a close third under a hold at Randwick, but was asked to do a bit more this time around by Kerrin McEvoy and responded in good style.
She flew out of an outside gate to quickly find the lead and led throughout
before being given a shake up in the straight to win by four and a half lengths
in 43.40 seconds which was the fastest of four two year-old heats at 740 metres.Showy Zoe was a $260,00 Inglis Easter purchase for Gai Waterhouse/ Julian Blaxland Bloodstock from the Newgate Farm draft and runs in the colours of John Singleton's Strawberry Hill Stud, who race the filly in partnership.
She is the first foal of highly talented filly Urban Groove, who had three starts for Waterhouse winning on debut at Kembla, then winning the Listed Reginald Allen Handicap, before finishing fourth in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes at her third start.
Sadly, Urban Groove never raced again, but it will be no surprise to see the daughter of Charge Forward leave a good one.
Waterhouse and Bott also won an earlier 1050 metre heat with Sebring filly Sheikha,
who was last seen finishing eighth to She Will Reign and Diamond Tathagata in
the $500,000 Inglis Nursery back in December.With She Will Reign and Diamond Tathagata both set to contest the Golden Slipper, the form from that race looks strong so Sheikha will be worth watching when she resumes.
She won her first trial back on February 20 and then found the line well enough in this heat to suggest she's ready to go back to the races.
Sheikha was a $350,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Emirates Park from the Widden stud draft and is from former slick Group III winner Solar Charged.
Other two year-old trial winners were: Brunch (Snitzel), My Zebrinka (Zoffany (IRE) and Spencer (Pierro).
