Racing: Green filly yet to show form of famous mum

Julia Ritchie with stakes-winning sprinter Silver Eclipse.

Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie see more of Seraphim's famous mother in the filly than other progeny of the great Ethereal they have prepared.

The private trainers to breeder-owner Sir Peter Vela will run the blue-blood in Hastings today in what may be her only appearance this preparation.

"She's probably more like Ethereal than most of the others in that she's quite a light-boned filly like her Mum and she doesn't take a lot of work," Ritchie said.

"We're quite happy with her, but we won't be over-taxing her and this may be her only run this time in."

Seraphim is an acceptor for both 1400 metre maidens at Hastings and a decision has yet to be made which event the daughter of Rip Van Winkle will debut in.

"She was very, very green in her first trial at Te Aroha and then she won really well at Te Teko the second time," Ritchie said. "She obviously learned a lot and she's done everything right since."

The stable will also have two other strong chances at Hastings with Mopsy stepping up to 1800 metres against the Rating 65 stayers and Choreography in the opening distance maiden.

A daughter of the Group One winner Popsy, the four-year-old Mopsy was a first-up winner at New Plymouth.

"We've always liked her and she's needed the time, she's quite a gangly sort of mare and she'll be even better with another year on her," Ritchie said.

Choreography was a last-start third at Dargaville and she has trained on well since.

"She seems to have woken up a fair bit since her last run so she's going the right way." NZ Racing Desk