Youngster looking to match famous sibling

TALENTED youngster Playa Del Carmen will be given the opportunity to match one of her famous sibling’s feats.

Breaking her maiden at Globe Derby yesterday, Playa Del Carmen is being primed for the Southern Cross Series, which begins with heats on November 28.

Should all go to plan the Greg Rogers-trained trotter will then contest the Final the following week.

By Im Stately from Santa Barbra, Playa Del Carmen is a half-sister to top squaregaiter Kitsilano, which is also a member of Rogers’ stable.

A multiple feature winner, Kitsilano captured a Southern Cross Final in 2019.

“I wouldn’t put her in the same category as Kitsilano as she was a more natural two-year-old, but Playa Del Carmen has enough ability in her own right,” Rogers said.

“She has done a few things wrong, but is getting better as she goes along as she showed yesterday.

“There is another race for her in two weeks then it will be on to the Southern Cross.”

With Rogers holding the reins, Playa Del Carmen began safely to lead from three before being eased to take a trail behind Ten No Spur during the middle stages.

Angled away from the pegs at the top of the home straight, the filly sprinted to a six-metre win from Ten No Spur, with All That Glitters 123 metres away third.

Covering the last half in 63 seconds, the two-year-old rated 2:08.7 over 1800 metres.

“I was pleased with the way she got away from the tapes to find the front early,” Rogers said. “After that she put in a few rough strides when Ten No Spur came up to her so I was happy to take a trail to help her concentrate.”

Having mentioned Kitsilano, the mare is back in work following a stint on the sidelined due to a hairline fracture in her offside back leg.

Kitsilano hasn’t raced since her unplaced effort at the troubled venue on March 22.

“I’m not certain when she did it, but it does explain her last few runs,” Rogers said. “She was given time to recover and had her leg rescanned last month and it came back all clear.

“She is jogging up nicely at the moment and can hopefully come back to her best.”