Top NZ apprentice James McDonald will warm the saddle for the suspended Jim Cassidy. Winning returns by Sepoy and Satin Shoes have given John O'Shea plenty of reason to be optimistic about the spring credentials of Elite Falls.
The filly had strong formlines through both gallopers during the autumn, finishingrunner-up to the Clarry Conners-trained Satin Shoes in the Widden Stakes and Silver Slipper before reversing the placings in the Reisling Stakes.
She was a strong third to Sepoy in the Golden Slipper and O'Shea said it was heartening to see both the Darley-trained colt and Satin Shoes resume with wins at Caulfield last weekend.
"That filly of Clarry's that won in Melbourne on Saturday we beat in the Reisling so it was good to see that form is okay," O'Shea said.
"It looks a nice race for my filly [today] and she's quite well treated at the weights."
Elite Falls will carry 56.5kg under the set weights plus penalties conditions of today's Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) with star New Zealand apprentice James McDonald warming the saddle for the suspended Jim Cassidy.
The Group Three Silver Shadow opens the four-race Princess Series which also comprises the Furious (1400m), Tea Rose (1500m) and Flight Stakes (1600m).
While Elite Falls is also entered for the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) on September 10, O'Shea says he is leaning to keeping her against her own sex. "At this stage I'd say she'll stick to the fillies' races but I've kept her in the Golden Rose to keep the option open if we wanted to run her there," he said. O'Shea won last Saturday's San Domenico Stakes with the Golden Rose-bound Foxwedge and is hoping Elite Falls can snare him another feature at Warwick Farm.
The filly was runner-up in a recent barrier trial and has pleased O'Shea with her progress at home.
While Elite Falls has won in the wet, O'Shea is hoping the conditions aren't too testing today.
With a long spring ahead, he is mindful of the effects of a tough first-up run on a heavy track.
"The wet track helps her in terms of her capacity to win the race and it eliminates a few others, hopefully it doesn't eliminate her," O'Shea said.
Elite Falls is the $2.70 favourite followed by Pane In The Glass at $4.40-$4.85 with Streama rounding out the top three priced in the $5 range.
