3 minute read

Progressive South Australian mare Spirit Of Camelot can continue her steady rise in the ratings when she makes her Melbourne debut at Caulfield on Saturday.

The Michael Hickmott-trained mare will chase her third win in succession when she makes her second interstate trip after breaking her maiden at Ballarat last year.

"She's a filly that I've got copious amounts of time for, I just love her," Hickmott said on RSN.

Spirit Of Camelot has been impressive winning her past two following her return to racing on a less then suitable surface on her home track at Murray Bridge on October 12 when beaten four lengths behind Super Alana.

"First-up it was a rock-hard track at Murray Bridge and it wasn't the right type of race and she just took a couple of weeks to come through that,'' Hickmott added.

"I thought she was pretty good her last two, she was good on the clock, and this is a nice stepping stone going forward."

"We'll just keep poking through nice and gradually and head towards the autumn in Melbourne or Adelaide," he said.

Hickmott also heads to Melbourne with smart filly Ad Astra who has finished second in her two starts.

She was a $12 chance when beaten 0.7 lengths behind Herastar in the Listed Cinderella Stakes at Morphettville on debut and then narrowly beaten by Dancing Storm at Murray Bridge in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at Murray Bridge in March.

"The easier option would be to stay here (in SA) and go to Gawler, but I think that it will certainly do her the world of good to have a trip away for seasoning mentally rather than physically," Hickmott said.

"That way, if I chose to travel her again later in the preparation for a better race, she's already been exposed to it.

"Her gallop this (Monday) morning was quite nice here at Murray Bridge and she's certainly heading in the right direction,'' he said.

Todd Pannell will make the trip to Melbourne to ride both horses and will also partner Midnight Charm for Victorian horseman Clayton Douglas at Caulfield.