California Could Spring A Surprise On Debut

Wednesday's The Royal Richmond Hotel 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate (1100m) at Hawkesbury holds a great deal of interest,  with five of the 12 acceptances not yet having faced the starter under race day conditions. Although currently sitting at double figure odds, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained California Surreal (I Am Invincible-Serene Majesty, by Fastnet Rock) is one such filly, who has been readied for her debut with four trials highlighted by a last start win over 800m at Gosford. With leading jockey Kerrin McEvoy sticking with the well-bred filly, the pair have unfortunately drawn the outside barrier of 12. Purchased from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the Neil Werrett-bred filly was knocked down to Asian Bloodstock Services for $650,000. The first foal of the Gr3-winning Fastnet Rock mare Serene Majesty, California Surreal comes from the family of stakes winners Fravashi (Falbrav), Russian Caravan (Dehere), Custard (Lonhro) and Pure Joy (Fusaichi Pegasus). Race favourite, and the hardest to beat, looks to be the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Riduna (Fastnet Rock-Alderny, by High Chaparral) who was third on debut behind Ashema (I Am Invincible) and Yearning (Snitzel), while it would be no surprise to see another well-bred filly in the shape of Ron Quinton's De An Andretti (I Am Invincible-Aloha, by Encosta de Lago) run extremely well on debut. She is a sister to the multiple Group 2-winning, Group 1-placed Libertini.