Bernardini
(USA) has not shuttled to Australia since 2015, but he is the sire of juvenile debut
winner Couvre Lit, who saluted at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for James Cummings.
A trial winner on January 29, she raced up on the pace for Glyn Schofield and
forged clear to win the 1200 metre maiden by three-quarters of a length over
the Chris Waller trained Snitzel colt Adana.
"Very promising," said Glyn Schofield, who knows a bit about her sire
Bernardini having partnered his best Australian horse Boban to numerous Group
I wins.
"It's never easy to win at six furlongs first-up against horses that have
raced.
"She showed a lot of aggression early on. A typical Bernardini that wants to
put the foot on the pedal from the get-go.
"We were lucky enough to find a nice bit of cover and when we were ready and
time to go I must say she quickened up really well and showed good strength
through the line."
A Darley homebred, Couvre Lit is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to the
Godolphin stakes-winner Meidung and is the third winner from Lonhro mare Counterpane,
a winning full sister to Group II winner and $1.2 million earner Pinwheel.
"She's done a great job there," Cummings said of Couvre Lit.
"She has a tendency to want to go too hard within herself so we are trying to
teach her to unwind, race experience is great for a young filly like here so
we'll see how much more tractable she becomes.
"Give me a horse that's got an engine any day and we'll work those other kinks
in time.
"There's plenty of options for a filly, a two-year-old, at this time of the
year.
"She has to probably jump into the deep end now and whether we think she's up
to it is something we'll decide after we see how she pulls up.
"She's going places."
Counterpane has a yearling colt by Shooting to Win and was covered by Helmet
last spring.