Rivette Final likely for Shamal Lass

The Rivette Series Final shapes as the most likely option for filly Shamal Lass at Flemington but trainer Symon Wilde is keeping his options open.

Wilde has also nominated the last-start Geelong winner for Saturday’s Silver Bowl Series Final (1600m) which is for three-year-olds while the Rivette (1600m) is restricted to three-year-old fillies.

Shamal Lass was nominated for a 1400m handicap for three-year-olds last Saturday at Caulfield but was saved with Saturday’s Rivette Series Final in mind.

“We’ll have a look at both races but I don’t think we’ll deviate from that,” Wilde said.

“I think we’ll probably head to the fillies version.”

Shamal Lass has shown promise, winning two of her five starts.

Her victories have come in a Donald maiden three starts ago and at Geelong last start on June 14 when she won a heat of the Rivette Series over 1440m on a heavy track in comfortable fashion.

Wilde believes the three-week gap between races and the step up to 1600m will suit the filly and he is hoping for a rain-affected surface which Shamal Lass appreciates.

“I think she’s one of those horses who is doing it on raw ability at the moment and I think with a break, her next prep will be her best prep,” Wilde said.

“She’s still not quite furnished out. I don’t know where she will end up and what her level is, but she is exciting.”

Shamal Lass is fourth in the ballot for the Rivette Final while she is 18th in the Silver Bowl Final with a field limit of 16 plus emergencies.

Wilde will consider running Santelmo Fuego, who finished third in a benchmark-64 race at Geelong last Friday, in the Silver Bowl Series Final but suggested there was a potentially softer option a week later.

“But we’ll keep a close eye on that race because there’s a lot of fillies nominated in that race. So it could drop away a little bit,” he said.

Eight of the 24 nominations for the Silver Bowl Final are fillies who are also nominated for the Rivette Series Final.

The trainer has fellow three-year-old American In Paris set for Saturday’s Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) while Another Coldie is scheduled to run in the Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).