By the same sire as Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, two year-old Medaglia D'Oro (USA) filly Sempre Libera was very impressive in charging home from the back of the field to win over 1200 metres by half a length at her second start.
Drawn the outside in the field of 12, Sempre Libera was allowed to find her feet by Josh Parr and looks well capable of winning better races.
"She's a lovely filly with plenty of scope," Waterhouse stable representative Mark Newnham said.
"Gai's had a big opinion of her right the way through and she's earned a shot at group company after that win today."
The $500,000 Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick in 10 days time is the likely target for the blue-blooded filly who is the seventh winner from eight foals to race from Golden Slipper winner Merlene, a daughter of champion sire Danehill (USA).
Now 21 years of age, Merlene is best known as the dam of South African Group II winner Merlene de Lago , the dam of ill-fated colt Burnstone, who won the Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview on debut earlier this year and then dropped dead of a heart attack a week or two later.
Another of Merlene's daughters, the unraced Zabeel mare Shirley, has found fame
and fortune as the dam of Group I winner and $2.1 million earner Dear Demi.Merlene has changed hands on a number of occasions throughout her stud career and was on-sold by Fairway Thoroughbreds last year at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale for $150,000 to Daandine Stud in Queensland.
She produced a So You Think colt for them last spring and was subsequently covered late in the season by Show a Heart.
The current yearling from Merlene, a dashing bay colt by High Chaparral (IRE) will be offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next week as Lot 42 by Segenhoe as agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds.
Sempre Libera looks another bright prospect for Darley shuttler Medaglia D'Oro, who leads the Australian Second Season Sires List by earnings.
