Drawn to add another feature to tally
ALTHOUGH she is yet to reach the dizzy heights of her mother, Steno has a strong opportunity to add another feature to her tally during the weekend.
By leading stallion Sweet Lou, Steno is from star performer Lady Waratah.
Australian Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year in 2006, Lady Waratah was a triple Group One winner within her first dozen starts, including two Australian Pacing Gold Finals.
Retired midway through her four-year-old campaign, Lady Waratah was sent to the breeding barn with 20 wins and eight placings from 36 starts for earnings of $564,770.
Steno had her 12th outing in Penrith last week, where she took her record to five wins and five placings for a bankroll of $58,237.
Bred by Dianne Kelly, who also bred Lady Waratah, Steno’s victories include the Group Three Western Region Final.
Pleased with the three-year-old’s form, trainer Cameron Ross is quietly confident Steno can add Saturday night’s Group Three Golden Easter Egg at Club Menangle to her list.
“She’s a nice little filly which has been getting better and better since I got her,” Ross said.
“I’ve got a high opinion of her, and after having a break at Christmas, she’s come back in good form.”
To be driven by Jack Callaghan, Steno has drawn to search for the lead from barrier two.
TAB Fixed Odds have Steno listed as the $1.70 favourite, with Miss Ex considered the main danger at $3 after drawing the pole.
“We’ve been a bit unlucky with draws at Menangle so it is good to have a handy one on Saturday night,” Ross said. “We haven’t asked her out of the gate much at all but this time she will certainly be asked to go forward.
“She won the Young Oaks two starts back and that was the first time she has led, so it will be interesting to see how she goes at Menangle with a good draw.
“Young was also the first time Dianne had seen her race live so I was happy to see her make a mess of her opposition.
“This will be another test for her, so it will be interesting to see how she goes.”