Southland trainer Brendon Black has ventured north with unbeaten filly Steffi in what could be the first of several trips north for two-year-old races this term.
Steffi will tackle the group two $70,000 Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m) for two-year-old fillies on Saturday in what is probably a hit-and-run mission.
"We have severaltwo-year-olds in work and with a lack of races for them in the south, we will be looking to come north more often," Black said.
Steffi will be Black's second runner in the North Island after Our Kashani ran second to Hulachine in the listed Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie last May.
Black, a former jockey who worked for prominent trainer Ted Winsloe for 10 years, trained in partnership with Brian Ridley for about three years but has been running his Winton stable on his own since the beginning of the season.
Ridley now operates the management side of the operation, which involves three properties owned by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing director Keith Neylon.
Ninety per cent of Black's horses are owned by Hong Kong clients but Neylon owns Steffi, a $35,000 yearling purchase at Karaka last year.
It was only after Steffi made a brilliant winning debut in the $30,000 Champagne Stakes (1000m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day that Black considered looking north.
"We didn't expect her to win so well and she broke the track record," he said. "She's a pretty smart filly and we'll just see how far we can go with her."
The Stravinsky youngster won her second start at Gore on January 29 and has been at Matamata since last Sunday.
"She wasn't the best of travellers initially but has surprised me with the way she has coped with this trip. She's done everything right and is extremely well. It is a big ask to take a young horse so far from home and it will be interesting to see how she races."
