Arethusa On Santa Barbara Trip

Time/Date - 15.30hrs local time/Saturday, April 18, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Santa Anita/USA
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 2f

Arethusa returns to Pattern company in the Group Three Santa Barbara Handicap over a mile and a quarter on turf at Santa Anita, USA, on Saturday, April 18.

The four-year-old filly, representing Eoin Harty, has made two appearances, both in allowance optional claimers on turf, at Santa Anita this year, gaining a cosy half-length success over nine furlongs on March 7 and finishing sixth in a mile contest on February 8.

She ran several good races on dirt last year, headed by a staying-on third in the mile Grade One Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita. Kent Desormaux takes the ride on Arethusa, who races off 8st 2lb and breaks from stall nine.

Eoin Harty commented: "I always wanted to run Arethusa on the turf this season because she is a beautiful mover and her two runs on the surface so far have been very good.

"I think that she is potentially going to be more effective on turf because her style of running, which is to come from off the pace, is more suited to turf compared to the dirt.

"She has no limitations in terms of staying a mile and a quarter although this will be a step back up in class for her. She is doing well and I hope that she can get some more black type."

Arethusa faces eight fillies and mares including Grade Two Buena Vista Stakes winner Diversy Habor, Grade One Matriarch Stakes second Queen Of The Sand and Grade Two Santa Ana Stakes runner-up Three Hearts.