Art Collection chasing maiden win first-up

Lindsay Park trainer Tom Dabernig is looking forward to Art Collection’s return at Randwick.

On the back of an eye-catching barrier trial win, well-bred filly Art Collection is set to return to racing at Randwick with her co-trainer Tom Dabernig believing the filly has come back bigger and stronger for this campaign.

A three-year-old half-sister to 2013/14 Australian Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee, Art Collection won a recent Rosehill barrier trial in preparation for her first Sydney start on Saturday having done all her racing in Melbourne as a juvenile.

Art Collection was runner-up on debut in the Group Three Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington last spring while the filly was unplaced in the Group Three Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield and the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington in her second preparation.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock out of Estelle Collection is among the leading contenders in Saturday’s $1250,000 2019 Owners Awards Handicap (1200m) for three-year-olds on the opening weekend of the new season.

“Nash Rawiller trialled her and she trialled really well,” Dabernig said.

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“She looks great. She’s bigger and stronger and I think she’ll run well.

“She’s had a good build-up for the race.

“She has come back and improved, I think.”

While Art Collection is kicking off her campaign in Sydney, Dabernig said there was a good program of races for fillies in both Sydney and Melbourne to consider.

“We’ll see how she performs first-up and map something out from there,” he said.

James McDonald takes the ride Art Collection on Saturday in the field of nine, with the filly second favourite at $3.50 behind the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt Mandela ($2.60).