Quezette Stakes will determine spring path for South Australian filly Kuroyanagi

The Quezette Stakes looms as a key race for South Australian filly Kuroyanagi with a number of Group 1 options on the table in the spring.

Kuroyanagi (right) battles Hayasugi (left) in the Blue Diamond Prelude Fillies at Caulfield in February. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Will Clarken is buoyed by exciting filly Kuroyanagi, and the magnitude of her spring ambitions will be determined following Saturday’s Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

The filly made an encouraging return to racing last month, runner-up to Lingani in the Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.

It was a performance that gave last season’s premiership-winning trainer plenty to think about.

“I was really happy with that, she went into that quite underdone,” Clarken, who trains in partnership with Niki O’Shea, said.

“She’s done two really good pieces of work since then, and they’ve both been pretty exciting, we are really happy with where her fitness is going across the border.”

Kuroyanagi returns to Caulfield, where she finished second in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Fillies’ Prelude (1100m), before a third-placed finish in the Group 1 Blue Diamond (1200m) in February – both behind Hayasugi.

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Clarken expects another bold showing in Melbourne on Saturday, with champion hoop Jamie Kah in the saddle.

“I do believe that horses that have a hard hitout first-up, you like to see them that second run in, but to my eye, she’s bright, well and in a good headspace,” he said.

“Her work has been just terrific, I’d be disappointed if she suffered any ‘second-upitis’.”

Lingani from the clouds! 😮@domjock nails the ride & wins the Lightning Stakes! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/GInMKUrdPA

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 27, 2024

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There’s no shortage of options for the daughter of Written Tycoon moving forward, but Clarken is using Saturday’s assignment as a measuring stick for just how high the stable aims this spring, while the jury is still out over her preferred distance.

“It’s really the fork in the road for her on Saturday, we’ve looked at races in Sydney, being the Flight Stakes if she’s up to them,” he said.

“The Coolmore is there, but that’s pie in the sky stuff, we’ve got to see her do it on Saturday.

“The Thousand Guineas … there’s a million races for her, but that would be one we could dream about as well.

“She’s bred to be a five, six furlong horse, but she profiles like she’ll get a bit further. I wouldn’t see 1400m being a problem.”

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While the spring plans are largely undecided, the excitement around the filly is undeniable.

“She looks really special, she’s probably proven that, she needs to go to the next level,” Clarken said.

“I’d be disappointed if she didn’t run really well Saturday and move on into the prep in a big way.”

Clarken and O’Shea have two runners at Murray Bridge on Wednesday, including first-starter Steel Tsunami ($3.80 TAB).

“He’s a home-bred horse, he’s got a terrific attitude and his trial was solid,” he said.

“He’ll have a live showing, and he’s probably one you would follow out of the yard going forward.”

Kuroyanagi is $4.20 with TAB for Saturday’s Quezette Stakes with Bold Bastille ($3.80) race favourite.

Originally published as Quezette Stakes will determine spring path for South Australian filly Kuroyanagi