Lee Curtis keen to test exciting filly Bauhinia in Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes on Saturday

The first leg of the Princess Series shapes as an important occasion for highly-promising filly Bauhinia as the Curtis stable look to snare some valuable black-type.

Bauhinia is an exciting filly trained by Lee and Cherie Curtis. Picture: Bradley Photos

Exciting filly Bauhinia has given trainer Lee Curtis reason to believe she could become one of his stable’s newest headline acts ahead of Saturday’s Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

Curtis knows it’s still only early days but his promising daughter of Hellbent has made a strong impression in two starts to date with a win and a placing in the lead up to her biggest test to date.

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“For us, we are not a big stable obviously so you don’t get horses of her calibre very often,” Curtis, who trains with his wife Cherie, said.

“In my time training, I’ve had good horses pop up here and there and they are always very exciting.

“They take you on a journey. It’s like riding wave.

“So far this filly looks pretty good.”

Bauhinia produced a remarkable debut performance where she became detached from the field early in the run before rattling home to finish second behind Red Hot Lizzie at Canterbury.

Red Hot Lizzie salutes in the first for @cmaherracing with a nice ride from @clarkyhk! pic.twitter.com/cImCmGapLL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 24, 2024

Jockey Tommy Berry was able to land in a more prominent position at Newcastle at her second start and Bauhinia was able to capitalise to score in excellent fashion over 1250m.

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“I was talking to Tommy on Tuesday morning and he thinks she is very good,” Curtis said.

“We think she is very good with the way she conducts herself at home, she is very professional.

“It is a shame what happened to her at her first start there but it may have been a blessing because she is able to go into this with two runs.

“And the second and third horses in that run are pretty serious horses.”

Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Manaal is the $3.50 favourite for the Silver Shadow Stakes with Bauhinia fourth line of betting at $11.

Manaal is the Silver Shadow Stakes favourite. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Unlike many of her rivals on Saturday, Bauhinia won’t progress past the first leg of the Princess Series.

“Win, lose or draw, she will go for a break,” Curtis said.

“I think it would be silly to keep going with her, even though she could be up to it.

“She has done really well and I think it would be unwise to keep dipping the toe in the water this preparation.

“Depending how we go on Saturday, we might have a little break and then look at the Magic Millions.”

The Magic Millions carnival takes place next January on the Gold Coast.

Originally published as Lee Curtis keen to test exciting filly Bauhinia in Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes on Saturday