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European success in Australia has provided encouragement to the connections of Scintillula.
The five-year-old fashioned a smart record in her native Ireland for breeder, part-owner and leading trainer Jim Bolger and is a sister to his Group One performers Cuis Ghaire, Gile Na Greine and Claiomh Solais.
Scintillula was purchased by Sir Peter Vela last year and the two-time winner is in the care of Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.The Galileo mare will make her New Zealand debut in Saturday’s Franklin Long Roofing at Avondale and has pleased in her build-up toward the 1600 metre handicap.
“We’re still finding our way with her and she had a quiet trial at Cambridge,” Ramsay said. “They only cantered around and she had a good blow afterwards.“The form of the Irish horses that have gone to Australia has stacked up quite well, but anything she does on Saturday she will improve on.
“We need to get some mileage into her and she holds nominations for the City of Auckland Cup and the Auckland Cup.”Scintillula was Group One placed in the Moyglare Stud Stakes over 1400 metres as a juvenile and following her maiden win the following season she ran fourth in the Gr.1 Irish Oaks.
She doubled her winning tally in the Gr.3 Meld Stakes, was fourth in the Gr.1 Yorkshire Oaks and last raced when third in the Gr.3 Lanwades Stud Stakes 14 months ago.“There is a lot of improvement in her and her best form is over further, but it won’t be a surprise if she is competitive on Saturday,” Ramsay said.
“She’s brings some serious form and, whatever she does, she is a very valuable mare.”