Wet track a boon for North Star Lass

Group 2 winner North Star Lass is poised to plunder another Princess Series race.

NORTH STAR LASS winning the DARLEY FURIOUS STAKES
NORTH STAR LASS winning the DARLEY FURIOUS STAKES Picture: Steve Hart

A wet track at Randwick holds no fears for connections of Flight Stakes contender North Star Lass ahead of her bout with Golden Slipper winner Fireburn and the up-and-coming Zougotcha in the final leg of the Princess Series. 

The Tulloch Lodge filly has won two of her five starts, both on heavy surfaces, highlighted by her fighting Furious Stakes success two starts ago. 

With Randwick a soft 7 on Thursday and more rain on the radar, Saturday's 1600m feature is set to be run on testing ground and while that might disadvantage some of her rivals, it will only enhance the prospects of North Star Lass. 

"You would not get a complaint from me if we got a heavy track for her," co-trainer Adrian Bott said. 

"She has won on it a few times, she has been effective against that grade and class and opposition so with that in mind, I wouldn't be disheartened by it. 

"We have had her set to go through this series and she has been very consistent through all three of them to date. I see no reason why she wouldn't do so again on Saturday." 

North Star Lass has contested all three Princess Series races, finishing third in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m), winning the Furious (1200m) and running a last-start fourth in the Tea Rose (1400m). 

Bott is confident the daughter of Zoustar will handle her first test at 1600m as the stable looks to go back-to-back in the fillies' feature after capturing it with Never Been Kissed last year. 

"She has come through the last race really well, she will enjoy whatever conditions are thrown at her and I think she will run out a strong mile," Bott said. 

Waterhouse and Bott will be bidding to continue their tremendous recent form, landing a feature race double with Grove Ferry and Surf Dancer at Rosehill last Saturday and producing Alligator Blood for a tenacious victory in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Sandown on Sunday. 

They put the icing on the cake with a midweek treble at Rosehill on Wednesday to give them six winners from their past 12 starters. 


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