Stella our Bella

The Informant's Richard Edmunds reports on Stella Di Paco's future targets, having flourished since her Listed Castletown Stakes' win ...

Tomorrow's (Saturday) Donovan's Trade Zone 2YO at Ruakaka marks Stella Di Paco's first appearance since her surprise Castletown Stakes'victory at Wanganui just over a month ago, and her connections are eyeing another black-type mission later in the month.

The Paco Boy filly gave the new training partnership of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards a dream start with her Listed victory on May 30, scoring at odds of 45 to one to give them their first training success at the helm of Te Akau Racing.

Autridge reported to The Informant this week that Stella Di Paco had blossomed since her Castletown Stakes' upset.

“She's done really well,” he said. “In fact she's done so well that it's been a problem, she's done too well. There haven't been many suitable races around for her lately. We really needed to give her a run to keep her fit, and we've been forced to take her up to Ruakaka to get it.”

Tomorrow's $17,500 event will serve as a stepping stone towards Stella Di Paco's next assignment, the Listed Ryder Stakes in two weeks' time.

“The Ryder is what we're looking at with her and hopefully the Ruakaka race will give her a good lead-up towards that target later in the month,” Autridge said.

Having tasted stakes success on a Slow7 track at Wanganui, Stella Di Paco's performance on what is generally drier ground at Ruakaka will determine her immediate future following the Ryder Stakes.

“We'll get a bit more of an idea after Saturday,” Autridge said. “We know she loves bad ground, so we'll find out on Saturday if she can handle the better stuff. If it looks like she's just a wet-tracker we might as well just carry on, but if she goes well we might give her a break after the Ryder and save her for later on.”

There are a couple of well-related youngsters standing in Stella Di Paco's way in tomorrow's 1200-metre race. One is Amarula, a colt by Thorn Park out of Shortblackmini who is a half-sister to Group One winners Sir Slick and Puccini. Shortblackmini is also the dam of Group Three winner and Gr. 1 Railway Stakes placegetter Little Wonder.

Amarula showed promise in a two-start campaign earlier in the season before returning with an impressive victory at this track at his most recent appearance.

The other well-bred runner is Stradivarius, a full brother to Group One winner Fleur De Lune. He made a winning debut at the expense of the highly rated Miss Wilson, then finished a solid sixth in the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes at Te Rapa in his only other start.