New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Risque is loving
her new life in Australia.
The Darci Brahma filly is making good progress toward her first start for
Victorian trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
"She's really settled in well and, while it's early stages, we couldn't be
happier with her," Dabernig said. "She's got a very good temperament and she's
been well-educated.
"She looks to be a very good pick up for the stable. We've watched the replays
of her races and there's no doubt that she's a classy filly."
Risque won three of her six starts from the Matamata stable of Stephen Autridge
and Jamie Richards and was sold by The Oaks Stud's Dick Karreman to Darren
Thomas' Seymour Bloodstock after her classic success at Riccarton in November.
"We're going to kick her off on the 20th at Flemington in the Vanity
over 1400 metres," Dabernig said.
"She'll start off in Melbourne and then possibly go to Sydney, but whatever she
does this autumn will be a bonus.
"She'll be really well acclimatised come the spring."
Meanwhile, another of the stable's New Zealand acquisitions is close to
resuming with He's Our Rokkii due to be back in action next month.
"He hasn't had a lot of luck and had a short break after he came back from
Perth," Dabernig said.
He's Our Rokkii broke his maiden in the spring and hasn't raced since he
finished eighth in the Gr.2 Western Australian Guineas in November.
"He'll kick off in a restricted event in February and we're sure he's got a
good race in him, he's a tough horse and an improving type," Dabernig said.
As Our Rokkii, he finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Phoenix Park 2YO Classic at
New Plymouth and ran fourth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes at
Awapuni for Cambridge trainer Mark Forbes before his sale to clients of Hayes
and Dabernig. – NZ Racing Desk.