Calaverite & Ottoman Seek Big Show In Sykes

Time/Date - 13.20hrs local time/Saturday, April 11, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Royal Randwick/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Two-year-old fillies Calaverite and Ottoman represent Godolphin in the Group Three Percy Sykes Stakes over six furlongs at Royal Randwick, Australia, on Saturday, April 11.

Calaverite (John O'Shea/James McDonald) steps back up in class following an easy success in the Listed Chandler MacLeod Penang Pearl, also over six furlongs, at Moonee Valley on March 20.

The daughter of Lonhro finished sixth at Royal Randwick in both the six-furlong Group Two Reisling Stakes on March 7 and the Listed Dx Solutions Lonhro Plate over half a furlong shorter on February 14.

She made a winning debut at Royal Randwick on October 4 with a half-length victory over Igraine in the five-furlong Listed Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes.

Ottoman (John O'Shea/Sam Clipperton) drops back down to Group Two level after coming home ninth in the world's richest two-year-old race, the Group One Tooheys New Golden Slipper, over six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.

She ran on well to take second behind Tooheys New Golden Slipper runner-up English in the Guinness Reisling Stakes.

The Exceed And Excel filly started her campaign with two starts over five and a half furlongs at Rosehill Gardens, taking fourth in the Group Two Blackwoods Uvex Silver Slipper Stakes on February 21 and winning a maiden on December 20.

John O'Shea said: "Calaverite has returned from Melbourne following her emphatic win at Moonee Valley.

"She has had a nice easy week and worked sharply on Tuesday morning. We have kept her quiet during the rest of the week and just let her feel good about herself going into this race.

"From gate seven, James McDonald should be able to roll forward which should be a distinct advantage as it looks a very light race for a lot of money and the horse to beat will be Lake Geneva.

"Ottoman has had a good campaign - her blood profile and work are still excellent and she still looks a really happy little horse.

"She is extremely well weighted considering the strength of her performance in the Golden Slipper. She should get a beautiful run from gate two and there is no reason why she wouldn't be competitive in this race."

Calaverite and Ottoman oppose six other two-year-old fillies including Lake Geneva and Serenade, who were third and seventh in the Tooheys New Golden Slipper.