Sebring's Sister Makes First Start

The opening race on Wednesday's Canterbury race card, the ACY Securities Handicap (1250m) sees a small, but select field of nine final acceptances with one of the most intriguing being the Ron Quinton-trained Neoma (More Than Ready-Purespeed, by Flying Speed), one of three unraced fillies in the race. A full-sister to Champion 2YO and Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Sebring (More Than Ready), the Ron Quintno-trained Neoma has been readied for her race day debut with four barrier trials, most recently finishing third, beaten 2.5-lengths over 1040m by the Annabel Neasham-trained Ardievu (Astern). The final foal of Purespeed, who passed away two days after foaling Neoma, the unraced juvenile is also a full-sister to the stakes placed Falkenberg who was covered last season by Australia's current leading sire Written Tycoon. With the services of Hugh Bowman, the filly will jump from barrier 3 in the nine-horse field. Race favourite is the Chris Waller-trained, Star Thoroughbreds-raced Divinia (Astern-Sakitto, by Domesday) who ran a solid third on debut behind Hilal (Fastnet Rock), with that colt going on to finish second in both the Gr1 Sires' Produce Stakes and Gr1 Champagne Stakes.