Joyfilly Ours set for Australian debut

Joyfilly Ours has a chance to live up to the name for a new group of owners when the promising New Zealand filly makes her Australian debut at Randwick.

Brought across the Tasman after running third in the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April, the three-year-old steps out for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Group Two Furious Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Joyfilly Ours has only failed to run a place once in her five-start career when fifth on debut at Pukekohe in January, giving Bott confidence about what she can produce in a field spearheaded by the Bjorn Baker-trained Champagne Cuddles.

“Looking at her form from afar in New Zealand, I really like what she showed, she looks to be a very honest horse,” Bott said.

“We’re still learning a bit about her coming over here. It’ll be interesting to see how that form stacks up over the shorter trip here.

“No doubt she’ll improve for us once we can stretch her over a little bit further, the 1400-1600 metres in time.”

Bott said Joyfilly Ours had settled in well to her home at Randwick and lines up for her Sydney debut on the back of two encouraging trials last month.

“We’ve been very happy with what we’ve seen from her in the trials,” he said.

“This is a nice race to start her off in. She’s nice and forward for this weekend.

“At this stage we’ve just got to pencil her in to go through the Princess series, the Tea Rose and hopefully the Flight Stakes.

“By that stage hopefully she’ll prove to us whether she’s suitable in stepping out over an Oaks trip or whether she’s more of an autumn filly for us.”